Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Bowdoin's yield is 24 pts higher than Vassar's
Yield rate - 2
Bowdoin is 3.1× more selective than Vassar
Acceptance rate - 3
Bowdoin's SAT midpoint is 15 points higher than Vassar's
SAT midpoint
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
- VassarHighly 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 29–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- BowdoinTest-optional
- VassarTest-optional
How they read a record
Bowdoin
, GPA, and class rank are all very important; tests are considered.
Vassar
and GPA are both very important; class rank is important; tests are considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Bowdoin | Vassar |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Very important | Very important |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Very important | Important |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Recommendations | Very important | Very important |
| Essay | Very important | Very important |
| Legacy status | Considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Important |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Considered | Required |
| Other tests | Considered | Not 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;Vassar College (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;Vassar College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Vassar College Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About 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