Bowdoin College Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Bowdoin College is a private university in Brunswick, Maine, enrolling about 1,873 students. Admission is highly selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 7.13% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $82,735 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $67,832
- 2024 Average Net Price: $14,398 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 7.13% Highly Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,873 100.0% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 95.28%
- Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
- First-Generation Students: 18.8%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 5.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 12.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 88.9%
- Average SAT Score: 1520
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,036
- Applicants (IPEDS): 10,966
- Room & Board: $18,488 annual estimate
Bowdoin College: what the data shows
Common questions about Bowdoin College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Bowdoin College?
Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (ZIP 04011).
NCES locale classification: Town fringe.
Is Bowdoin College public or private?
Bowdoin College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Bowdoin College cost?
Published tuition: $67,832.
Average net price after aid: $14,398.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $3,145 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $2,800 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $9,007 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $13,801 |
| $110,001+ | $35,196 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $271,328.
How hard is it to get into Bowdoin College?
Admission rate: 7.13%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1520.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Bowdoin College?
Total enrollment: 1,873 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,036 students.
About 100% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Bowdoin College?
150%-time completion rate: 95.28%.
First-year retention: 96.8%.
What do graduates of Bowdoin College earn?
Median earnings: $61,692 six years after entry; $82,735 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $18,500.
17.35% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Bowdoin College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (75 completions)
- Political Science and Government, General (73 completions)
- Mathematics, General (51 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (43 completions)
- Computer Science (40 completions)
- Neuroscience (37 completions)
- English Language and Literature, General (28 completions)
- History, General (27 completions)
- Environmental Studies (25 completions)
- Physics, General (24 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Bowdoin College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 7.13%; completion rate 95.28%; median earnings $82,735 at 10 years; net price $14,398. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$67,832
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Bowdoin College was $67,832.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$14,398
2024 Value
In 2024 Bowdoin College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,398.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$57,592 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$14,398 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$271,328 4-Year Tuition
$18,488 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$840 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$87,160 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$348,640 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Bowdoin College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
17.35% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
8.38% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Bowdoin College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Bowdoin College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $45,446 | $45,446 | $18,613 |
| 2014 | $46,808 | $46,808 | $19,336 |
| 2015 | $48,212 | $48,212 | $19,001 |
| 2016 | $49,900 | $49,900 | $20,695 |
| 2017 | $51,848 | $51,848 | $22,810 |
| 2018 | $53,922 | $53,922 | $21,300 |
| 2019 | $56,350 | $56,350 | $21,910 |
| 2020 | $56,350 | $56,350 | $22,840 |
| 2021 | $58,322 | $58,322 | $16,925 |
| 2022 | $61,528 | $61,528 | $18,533 |
| 2023 | $64,910 | $64,910 | $20,786 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
7.13% Acceptance Rate
10,966 Total Applicants
879 Students Admitted
504 First-Time Students Enrolled
57.34% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is extremely selective, accepting fewer than 1 in 10 applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1520
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.9 - 4.0
Estimated Median GPA: 4.00
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Bowdoin College reported total enrollment of about 1,873 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 48% male and 52% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (52.7%), Hispanic or Latino (14.5%), and Asian (11.2%). About 17.35% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 18.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
100.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Bowdoin College in 2024 is 1,873 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,036 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
96.8%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 52.7%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
72.44% 100% Completion Time
95.28% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 72.44% of students graduating from Bowdoin College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics: 76% male / 24% female
- Political Science and Government, General: 60% male / 40% female
- Mathematics, General: 61% male / 39% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Bowdoin College.
Return on Investment
$18,500 Median Student Debt
$82,735 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
22.36% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1336.57% Return on Investment
2.2 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Bowdoin College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 41 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Econometrics and Quantitative Economics: 75 completions
2. Political Science and Government, General: 73 completions
3. Mathematics, General: 51 completions
4. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 43 completions
5. Computer Science: 40 completions
6. Neuroscience: 37 completions
7. English Language and Literature, General: 28 completions
8. History, General: 27 completions
9. Environmental Studies: 25 completions
Most popular programs at Bowdoin College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Bowdoin College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Bowdoin College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 88.9%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $14,216
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $42,365
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Bowdoin College is a private non-profit institution located in Brunswick, ME, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Political Science and Government, General, Mathematics, General. Enrollment is approximately 1,873 students. Student body composition includes White (52.7%), Hispanic or Latino (14.5%), Asian (11.2%). It is highly selective, with an admission rate of 7.13%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1520. The 150%-time completion rate is 95.28%. Approximately 17.35% of students receive Pell Grants. About 18.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
Location
Brunswick, ME 04011
Region: New England
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 95.28% graduation rate, Bowdoin College demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.
Strong Career Outcomes: Bowdoin College graduates report median earnings of $82,735 ten years after entry, placing them among the higher-earning college graduates nationally. This strong earnings potential reflects both the quality of education and the career opportunities available to graduates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bowdoin College located?
Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME.
What is Bowdoin College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Bowdoin College is 7.1% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 10,966 applicants and 879 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Bowdoin College cost?
Reported tuition is $67,832 and average net price is $14,398 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $18,488 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Bowdoin College?
Bowdoin College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,036 students, White (52.7%), Hispanic or Latino (14.5%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Bowdoin College?
About 18.8% of students at Bowdoin College are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Bowdoin College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Bowdoin College reports midpoint SAT about 1520.
What do graduates of Bowdoin College earn?
Median earnings are $61,692 six years after entry and $82,735 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Bowdoin College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 95.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Bowdoin College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $18,500.
Is Bowdoin College public or private?
Bowdoin College is a private nonprofit institution located in Brunswick, ME.
Is Bowdoin College an HBCU?
No. Bowdoin College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Bowdoin College a tribal college?
No. Bowdoin College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Maine college costs
- Maine colleges by ROI
- New England regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Maine
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.