Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Bowdoin's yield is 8 pts higher than Colby's
Yield rate - 2
Bowdoin admits 6.8% vs. 7.1% at Colby
Acceptance rate
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- BowdoinUltra selective
- ColbyHighly selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1400–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 28–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- BowdoinTest-optional
- ColbyTest-optional
How they read a record
Bowdoin
, GPA, and class rank are all very important; tests are considered.
Colby
The high school record is required; GPA, class rank, and a college-prep program are considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Bowdoin | Colby |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Very important | Considered |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Very important | Considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Considered |
| Recommendations | Very important | Considered |
| Essay | Very important | Considered |
| Legacy status | Considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Considered | Required |
| Other tests | Considered | Considered |
Sources:Bowdoin College (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Bowdoin College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Bowdoin College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Bowdoin College Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why