Bowdoin College is a private nonprofit institution with an undergraduate enrollment of 1,873 students and a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio. It has a 7.1% acceptance rate and a 6-year graduation rate of 95.4%. The cost of attendance is $88,820, with 17.3% of students receiving Pell grants and 18.8% being first-generation students.
Bowdoin College is highly selective with a 7.1% acceptance rate and an undergraduate enrollment of 1,873 students. The college maintains a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and reports a 95.4% six-year graduation rate.
| Applied | Admitted | Rate | Enrolled | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 4,865 | 420 | 8.6% | 251 |
| Women | 6,101 | 459 | 7.5% | 253 |
Bowdoin College admits 7.1% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 74%.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
Bowdoin College has a cost of attendance of $88,820. The school serves 17.3% Pell grant recipients and maintains a substantial $2.6 billion endowment supporting financial aid.
* One or more income brackets show an unusually low net price, reflecting need-based aid that can reduce cost to near zero for families in that range.
Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $196.
After aid, Bowdoin College costs $14,398 a year — about 36% less than a typical similar college.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
Bowdoin College has a 95.4% six-year graduation rate. Median earnings are $61,692 at six years post-enrollment and $82,735 at ten years post-enrollment.
| Major | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Econometrics and Quantitative Economics | 63 |
| Political Science and Government, General | 60 |
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General | 42 |
| Computer Science | 33 |
| Neuroscience | 32 |
| Mathematics, General | 26 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 23 |
| History, General | 21 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | 20 |
| Biochemistry | 19 |
Median earnings eight years after entering Bowdoin College are $79,520, and 80% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.
Six years after entry, former Bowdoin College students earn $61,692 — 36% more than at a typical similar college.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
Bowdoin College is a small private nonprofit institution with 1,873 undergraduates and a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio. It competes in NCAA Division III athletics, including football, with an athletic revenue of $6.3 million.
Average head coach salary by program gender.
668 of 1,845 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.
0 of 1,850 undergraduates study entirely at a distance.
Bowdoin College is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
Bowdoin College spends $19,791 per student on research — about 3× a typical similar college.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
Bowdoin College is in Brunswick, ME, in what IPEDS classifies as a town, near a city setting. The campus sits about 1.7 miles from the center of Brunswick. There are 5 other colleges within 25 miles, and Lewiston, ME is 16.3 miles away.
Cumberland County scores 9.6 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — below average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.
Undergraduates make up about 12.9% of Brunswick's residents.
Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures Bowdoin College reported for 2024.
Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.
Separately, Bowdoin College reported 51 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.
Common questions about Bowdoin College admissions, costs, and outcomes.
Bowdoin has a 7.1% acceptance rate, making it one of the most selective colleges in the country. This highly competitive admissions process means applicants need strong academic credentials and demonstrated interests to stand out.
The cost of attendance at Bowdoin is $88,820 per year, which includes tuition, fees, room, board, and other expenses. However, many students pay significantly less due to Bowdoin's generous financial aid packages.
Bowdoin's $2.6 billion endowment supports need-based financial aid. The college enrolls 17.3% Pell grant recipients and 18.8% first-generation students, and its average net price is $14,398 against an $88,820 cost of attendance.
Bowdoin has an undergraduate enrollment of 1,873 students with a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio. This intimate size allows close relationships with professors and personalized education in a residential community.
Bowdoin's 6-year graduation rate is 95.4%. Even among Pell grant recipients, the graduation rate is 92.6%, demonstrating strong student support and success across all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Bowdoin graduates earn a median of $61,692 six years after enrollment and $82,735 ten years after enrollment. These figures reflect strong career outcomes and earning potential for Bowdoin alumni.
Yes, Bowdoin competes in NCAA Division III athletics, including football. The college invests $6.3 million annually in athletic programs while maintaining the academic standards and community engagement central to Division III philosophy.
Bowdoin's student body is 52.1% women, reflecting a balanced gender distribution. The college actively recruits and supports students of all genders in its academic and residential community.
18.8% of Bowdoin students are first-generation college students. The college demonstrates commitment to access and diversity through its need-blind admissions and robust support services for underrepresented populations.
Bowdoin holds a $2.6 billion endowment. Those resources support financial aid — the average net price is $14,398 — along with faculty and facilities for a college of 1,873 undergraduates.