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Bowdoin College

#2 in Best Liberal Arts Colleges in America
  • A+
    Overall Grade
  • 4 Year
  • Brunswick, ME
  • 677 reviews
    Apply NowVisit Campus
    A+
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    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
      A-
    View Full Report Card
    About Bowdoin College...
    Athletic Division
    NCAA Division III (with football)
    Athletic Conference
    New England Small College Athletic Conference
    Address
    255 Maine Street
    Brunswick, ME 04011
    Website
    bowdoin.edu
    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.

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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.

    Admissions

    Application Deadline
    January 1
    Acceptance Rate
    14%
    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

    Cost

    Net Price
    $24,447/ 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
    $41,143/ year
    National
    $7,535
    Students Receiving Financial Aid
    48%

    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
    63%
    of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.60 responses
    47%
    of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.60 responses

    Majors

    Most Popular Majors
    • Political Science and Government
      94 Graduates
    • Economics
      66 Graduates
    • Mathematics
      40 Graduates
    • Biology
      35 Graduates
    • English
      31 Graduates
    • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
      28 Graduates
    • Sociology
      28 Graduates
    • European and Russian Studies
      27 Graduates
    • Computer Science
      26 Graduates
    • Neuroscience and Neurobiology
      25 Graduates

    Students

    Full-Time Enrollment
    1,813Undergrads
    Part-Time Undergrads
    3
    Undergrads Over 25
    0%
    Pell Grant
    14%
    Varsity Athletes
    36%
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
    Based on 38 responses
    Report
    • Smart and Energetic
      26%
    • Bright and intelligent, yet modest
      24%
    • Jock
      11%
    • Wealthy, white
      8%
    • Driven
      8%
    • Smart, strategic, casual
      8%
    • Drive, passionate
      5%

    Campus Life

    Freshmen Live On-Campus
    100%
    Poll
    93%
    of students say they don't have Greek life.46 responses
    Poll
    64%
    of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.66 responses
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes your school?
    Based on 39 responses
    Report
    • Bowdoin is the people that make it.
      36%
    • Best college ever!
      26%
    • Limited but focused
      15%
    • Exceptional
      13%
    • Bowdoin makes me optimistic about the future.
      5%
    • Home away from home
      3%
    • Underrated
      3%

      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
      Colleges like Bowdoin College
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      Bowdoin College Reviews

      677 reviews
      All Categories
      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.
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      Next year I will have a Junior at Bowdoin as well as an incoming freshman. No matter if you are a nerd student or a promising artist, Bowdoin is THE place to help you discover your passion. My girls love their college. Go visit. You’ll fall in love with our Polar Bear community!
      Bowdoin College has become my second home. It has it's many flaws but it also has a way of making your feel safe and welcome even on the worst of days. I came here looking for that tight-knit community feeling and that is exactly what I got. The campus is beautiful. The professors are amazing and have been life-changing in some cases. It is lacking in terms of diversity of all kinds unfortunately, but the college is receptive to its students attempting to make changes in campus culture for the better. I've had my share of good and bad times here but Bowdoin is a truly unforgettable place.