Quad

Bowdoin College

Brunswick, MEQuad's selectivityUltra selective
Known forUltra-selectiveTop test scoresDraws students nationallyBig endowment per studentHigh earnersFew students borrowHigh graduation rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 11, 2026

  • Fall 2025: 14,045 applied (fall 2024: 13,265)Bowdoin College (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 957 admits (fall 2024: 946)Bowdoin College (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 6.8% admitted (fall 2024: 7.1%)Bowdoin College (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Math 730–780 (fall 2024: 740–780)Bowdoin College Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Entered fall 2024: 98% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 97%)Bowdoin College Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Bowdoin College (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;Bowdoin College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Bowdoin College Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

1 in 15 applicants admitted

Bowdoin admits about 1 in 15 applicants (6.8%). That puts it in the "Ultra selective" tier, more selective than 99% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

6.8%

6.8%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityUltra selective

Applied

14,045

Admitted

957

Yield

54%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1470–1540

10001600
ACT middle 50%

33–35

1836
Applications +91% since fall 2014 · admit rate 15% → 7.1%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 1,873 undergrads, where 17% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

1.9K

undergrads · larger than 55% of colleges

Diversity index

0.67

Pell Grant

17%

below the median

First generation

19%

below the median

Town near a cityFirst-years live on campusNCAA D-III · New England Small College Athletic ConferenceStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.57 → 0.67 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (16% of graduates). 9 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 84% of colleges. 89% of faculty are full-time. Spends $42,365 a year on instruction per student.

9 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 84% of colleges

Most popular major

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics

16% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Science

$137.6K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

89%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$42.4K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $50,795 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $26.5K more than the national median. The 55% who received grants paid $22,228 on average; the other 45% paid the full sticker price of $85,100.

40%

$50.8K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $26.5K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$85,100 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
3.3% · avg $1K
of first-years without need got merit aid
Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 40% of full price

Federal loans

8%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −8% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $82,735 ten years after enrolling, more than at 92% of colleges; 94% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.5 years of that salary.

94%

94%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$82.7K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$18.5K

≈ $196/month for 10 years

Retention

98%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 93% → 95% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 8% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 8%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 91% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 15% to 7.1%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −8% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +91%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 15% → 7% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.57 → 0.67

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Bowdoin College (Fall 2025)

    Bowdoin College · Fall 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  4. 4
    Bowdoin College Common Data Set 2025–26

    Bowdoin College · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2025–26 (estimated); 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Fall 2026 cycle; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Bowdoin College (2026–27)

    Bowdoin College · 2026–27 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  13. 13
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  20. 20
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  21. 21
    Bowdoin College (2026)

    Bowdoin College · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 161004 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything