Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College is a private liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine, consistently ranked among the very top liberal arts colleges in the country and known for its small classes, its renowned dining, and a strong tradition in environmental studies and the sciences. Admission is extremely selective: Bowdoin admitted about 6.8% of more than 14,000 applicants for its most recent class, with enrolled first-years posting middle-50% SAT scores of 1470–1540 and an 8-to-1 student-faculty ratio. The social sciences and the biological sciences are the two most-conferred fields, together accounting for more than 40% of bachelor's degrees. Bowdoin is test-optional and need-blind, meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, and replaces loans with grants — its typical first-year need-based grant runs around $70,000.
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Bowdoin admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Decision
Bowdoin offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Admit rate by application plan
% admitted~2.7× higher admit rate applying early.
Standardized Tests
Bowdoin is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Bowdoin's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 26.6% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Bowdoin does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Bowdoin weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Bowdoin's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Bowdoin admissions
Is it hard to get into Bowdoin?＋
Yes. Bowdoin is extremely selective, admitting about 6.8% of applicants in the most recent cycle and offering admission to roughly 957 of more than 14,000 applicants. With no single cutoff, the class is concentrated at the very top of the high school cohort: among enrolled first-years who reported class rank, about 89% were in the top tenth of their graduating class.
What is Bowdoin's acceptance rate?＋
Bowdoin's acceptance rate is about 6.8%, with roughly 957 students admitted from a pool of more than 14,000 applicants and about 515 enrolling as first-years. Bowdoin also runs binding Early Decision I and II rounds, which together drew 1,985 applications and admitted 296 students for its prior entering class.
Does applying Early Decision improve your chances at Bowdoin?＋
Applying Early Decision can help, since Bowdoin's ED rounds are admitted at a higher rate than the 6.8% overall rate. For its prior entering class, Bowdoin's binding Early Decision I and II plans received 1,985 applications and admitted 296 students — an early admit rate around 15%, well above the overall figure. Note that ED is binding, so you commit to enroll if admitted.
Does Bowdoin require the SAT or ACT?＋
No. Bowdoin is test-optional, so you may apply without scores, and tests are evaluated only if you submit them. Among enrolled first-years who did submit, the middle 50% scored 1470–1540 on the SAT and 33–35 on the ACT, and nearly all submitters scored in the top score bands.
What GPA and class rank do you need for Bowdoin?＋
Bowdoin does not publish an average admitted GPA, but its academic GPA, class rank, and the rigor of your high school record are all weighed as very important factors. Among enrolled first-years who reported a rank, roughly 89% were in the top tenth of their class and all were in the top half, so admitted students are typically at the very top of their cohort.
Is Bowdoin financial aid really loan-free, and how much does it cost?＋
Yes. Bowdoin is need-blind, meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, and replaces loans with grants rather than borrowing. Tuition and required fees run about $71,740 per year before housing and food; about 52% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, with an average need-based grant near $70,186.
What is Bowdoin known for and what are its most popular majors?＋
Bowdoin is a small liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine, with an 8-to-1 student-faculty ratio and strength across the social sciences and the natural sciences. The social sciences are the single most popular area at about 27% of degrees, followed by the biological sciences (15%) and the physical sciences (8%), with area and ethnic studies, math and statistics, and computer science rounding out the most-conferred fields.
Does the application essay matter at Bowdoin?＋
Yes — Bowdoin rates the application essay as a very important factor in its holistic review, alongside the rigor of your record, GPA, recommendations, extracurriculars, and personal qualities. With an admit rate near 6.8% and test scores only 'considered,' a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest places a strong applicant can stand out.
Source: Bowdoin College Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-07. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Bowdoin. Banner photo by Daderot, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain).