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Bowdoin College

#2 in Best Liberal Arts Colleges in America
  • A+
    Overall Grade
  • 4 Year
  • Brunswick, ME
  • 694 reviews
    Apply NowVirtual Tour

    COVID-19 Update for Prospective Students and Families:

    The College remains open and focused on our central mission of teaching, learning, and creative and scholarly work. While we are not offering in-person campus tours or information sessions at this time, we are holding virtual information sessions and live chats with admissions counselors. We also have student-led virtual campus tours. Learn More

    A+
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?Data Sources
    1. Academics
      A+
    2. Value
      A+
    3. Diversity
      A
    4. Campus
      A
    5. Athletics
      B
    6. Party Scene
      B
    7. Professors
      A+
    8. Location
      B+
    9. Dorms
      A+
    10. Campus Food
      A+
    11. Student Life
      A
    12. Safety
      B+
    bowdoin.edu
    255 Maine Street
    Brunswick, ME 04011
    About Bowdoin...
    Athletic Division
    NCAA Division III (with football)
    Athletic Conference
    New England Small College Athletic Conference
    From Bowdoin College

    Bowdoin (bo-d'n) may surprise you. Situated in a coastal Maine town, we produce leading scholars, innovators, and humanitarians. Alumni include Reed Hastings (CEO/founder of Netflix) and DeRay Mckesson (Black Lives Matter). Students balance rigorous academics with the fun of more than 100 student clubs. Unfamiliar with Maine? We have beaches, mountains, food trucks, and upscale restaurants. We sport L.L.Bean boots while engaging in social justice and community service. Bowdoin students, diverse in backgrounds and interests, are funded by an annual financial aid budget of $45 million.

    Bowdoin will meet your full need

    Upcoming Events

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    Bowdoin College Rankings

    Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.
    See All Bowdoin College Rankings

    Admissions

    Application Deadline
    January 5
    Acceptance Rate
    10%
    SAT Range
    1360-1510
    ACT Range
    31-33
    Application Fee
    $65
    SAT/ACT
    Neither required nor recommended
    High School GPA
    Recommended
    Accepts Common App
    Yes
    Read More About Admissions
    Find Student Loans

    Cost

    Net Price
    $24,831/ year
    National
    $15,523
    Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
    Average Total Aid Awarded
    $43,239/ year
    National
    $7,535
    Students Receiving Financial Aid
    56%
    Find Private Student Loans
    Explore Tuition & Cost Breakdown
    Find College Scholarships 

    Academics

    Professors
    A+
    Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
    Student Faculty Ratio
    9:1
    Evening Degree Programs
    No
    98%
    of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.42 responses
    66%
    of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.62 responses
    40%
    of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.62 responses
    Read More About Academics

    Majors

    Most Popular Majors
    • Political Science and Government
      101 Graduates
    • Economics
      73 Graduates
    • Mathematics
      48 Graduates
    • Biology
      35 Graduates
    • Computer Science
      32 Graduates
    • History
      32 Graduates
    • Neuroscience and Neurobiology
      31 Graduates
    • Environmental Science
      29 Graduates
    • Research and Experimental Psychology
      29 Graduates
    • European and Russian Studies
      28 Graduates
    See All Majors

    Computer Science

    The Department of Computer Science at Bowdoin encourages students to think critically and creatively to solve problems using algorithms. Our curricular offerings prepare graduates well for further study or professional careers in teaching, industry, and financial services.

    Students

    Full-Time Enrollment
    1,825Undergrads
    Part-Time Undergrads
    3
    Undergrads Over 25
    0%
    Pell Grant
    16%
    Varsity Athletes
    36%
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
    Based on 37 responses
    • Bright and intelligent, yet modest
      30%
    • Smart and Energetic
      27%
    • Wealthy, white
      11%
    • Driven
      8%
    • Smart, strategic, casual
      8%
    • Drive, passionate
      5%
    • Ambitious
      3%
    Read More About the Students

    Campus Life

    Freshmen Live On-Campus
    100%
    Take a Virtual Tour
    Poll
    92%
    of students say they don't have Greek life.48 responses
    Poll
    66%
    of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.68 responses
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes your school?
    Based on 37 responses
    • Bowdoin is the people that make it.
      43%
    • Best college ever!
      27%
    • Exceptional
      14%
    • Bowdoin makes me optimistic about the future.
      5%
    • Home away from home
      3%
    • Homogeneous
      3%
    • Strict
      3%
    Read More About Campus Life

      After College

      Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
      $65,500/ year
      National
      $33,028
      Graduation Rate
      95%
      National
      49%
      Employed 2 Years After Graduation
      93%
      National
      83%
      90%
      of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.21 responses
      Read More About Life After Graduation

      Bowdoin College Reviews

      694 reviews
      All Categories
      The moment I stepped on Bowdoin's campus, I knew that it was going to be my home for the next four years. I am confident that I chose the right school for me. I feel like I'm flourishing in terms of my social and academic life; things are just happening for me here. My professors are wonderful, there's such a tight-knit community, and the people here are so nice. Bowdoin just cares about me!
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      Rate It!
      So glad I chose to come to Bowdoin! A very close community where people treat each other with kindness and are excited to learn from their peers. Quality of life is great, with great dorms, food and surrounding area. Classes are challenging but there is very little competitiveness and lots of support for students academically. For a small liberal arts school, there is a very healthy and fun social life.
      Bowdoin helps you learn and grow far more than just your academics, but your person. For me, this comes primarily from the people in the Bowdoin community. There are difficulties associated with any one of the elements listed below about Bowdoin, but the people that I've met and have created a community with have turned any of those difficulties around into beautiful learning experiences and reinforcements of community. Maybe it's just that I've found my people -- but there is such an overwhelming number of these people that I feel this from. Students are supportive, collaborative, have a crazy range of interests, and a willingness to try new things (even if that new thing is taking a break and forgoing a reading). There are many ways to learn and challenge oneself, and my time at Bowdoin has shown me how that can both be deepened in academics and extend far beyond just those traditional academics. My academics enhance my holistic life, as my holistic life enhances my academics.
      Read More Reviews