Overview of Bowdoin College

Bowdoin College is a private liberal arts institution with an acceptance rate of 10%. The institution has a large selection of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students to choose from. With its 9-to-1 student/faculty ratio, admitted students are guaranteed a superior education. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations. Because of its accomplishments in STEM and the liberal arts, Phi Beta Kappa granted the university membership.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 1,828 (all undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 49 percent male/51 percent female
• 100 percent full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $56,350
• Books: $840
• Room and Board: $15,360
• Other Expenses: $1,250
• Total Cost: $73,800

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 56 percent
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 54 percent
  • Loans: 18 percent

• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $41,967
  • Loans: $6,481

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Political Science and Government, General; Economics, General; Mathematics, General; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; and History, General

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 95 percent
• Transfer-Out Rate: 3 percent
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 88 percent
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 95 percent

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Skiing-Snowboarding, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Rugby, Skiing-Snowboarding, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field

Overview of Bowdoin College Admissions

Bowdoin College, which accepts one-tenth of applicants, is a highly selective liberal arts institution. This institution has a robust admissions process that involves a multitude of academic measures. Glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. It also requires at least one supplemental essay. Your essay needs to convey your unique qualities and abilities. Students are also required to submit scores from either the ACT or SAT. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the admissions offices mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the next steps of the application process. Interested students should check out the university’s website, which has helpful tips and contact information for the admissions offices.

Admissions Data

During the 2018-19 admissions phase, Bowdoin College had an acceptance rate of 10%.  for every 100 students who provided applications, ten students gained admission, making Bowdoin’s admissions process highly competitive.

SAT Requirements and Scores

Bowdoin has a test-optional testing policy. Applicants to Bowdoin can send ACT or SAT scores. However, they aren’t necessary. During the 2018-19 admissions phase, 60% of admitted students provided SAT scores.

This admissions data reveals that of those who provided test scores during the 2018-19 admissions phase, most of Bowdoin’s admitted students score within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the reading and writing part, 50% of students admitted to Bowdoin scored between 650 and 740, while 25% scored below 650, and 25% scored over 740. On the math part, 50% of admitted students scored between 650 and 770, while 25% scored below 650, and 25% scored over 770. This data reveals that an overall SAT score of 1510 or higher is a competitive score.

ACT Requirements and Scores

Bowdoin College has a test-optional testing policy. Applicants to Bowdoin can send ACT or SAT scores. However, they aren’t necessary. During the 2018-19 admissions phase, 46% of admitted students provided ACT scores.

This admissions data reveals that of those students who provided ACT scores to Bowdoin College, most score within the top 7% nationally on the ACT.  50% of students admitted to Bowdoin received an overall ACT score between 30 and 34, while 25% scored over 34, and 25% scored below 30.

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Bowdoin College, then it should be easy for you to gain admissions to the schools below. If Bowdoin College is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

University of California, Santa Barbara, Stony Brook University, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Connecticut, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of California, Davis

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for Bowdoin College, then you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.

University of Michigan, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York University, Boston University, Boston College, University of California, Los Angeles, Villanova University

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will Be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Bowdoin College. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.

Stanford University, Brown University, Dartmouth College, Cornell University, Tufts University, Duke University, Northeastern University

Applying to Bowdoin College

Application Deadline: January 1

Undergraduate Admissions Website: https://www.bowdoin.edu/admissions/index.html

Undergraduate Application Link(s): https://www.bowdoin.edu/admissions/apply/index.html