Bowdoin College: Admissions, Rankings and Acceptance Rates

With just over 1800 students, this Coed and Private liberal arts Bowdoin College is situated in Brunswick, Maine. Including small class sizes, top-notch teachers, and a stunning campus, Bowdoin College has a lot to offer its students. Established in 1794, Bowdoin College is set up in a suburban location across 215 acres. The coastal New England town of Brunswick, Maine, is home to Bowdoin College. The Bowdoin Polar Bears compete in the NCAA Division III New England Small College Athletic Conference and participate in 30 university sports. Until 1971, Bowdoin College was widely recognized as a men’s college only. And it was the first college to make SAT/ACT scores optional during the application process in 1969. Olympic gold winner Joan Benoit Samuelson, author Nathaniel Hawthorne, activist and educator Geoffrey Canada, ex-president of the United States Franklin Pierce, and investigative reporter for NBC News Cynthia McFadden are among few notable alumni of Bowdoin College. 

 Bowdoin College Acceptance rate for 2026 class: 

Bowdoin College Acceptance rate dipped in recent years compared to 2018. Bowdoin College Acceptance rate used to be in the double digits, for example, 13.4% in 2017. Which Bowdoin College Acceptance rate was 8.8%. Bowdoin College received a total of 9,320 applications, among which Bowdoin college accepted 822 applicants. And among 822 students, only 517 chose to enroll in Bowdoin College. With a very rigorous selection process, Bowdoin College Acceptance rate for 2022(class of 2026) is 9.1%, with an early decision acceptance rate of 26%. Below are the total statistics for the 2026 Bowdoin College Acceptance rate. 

Total Applicants	9,446
Accepted by Bowdoin College	862
Students Enrolled	511
Acceptance Rate	9.1%

Of 511 students enrolled for the class of 2026, 50% are female, Bowdoin College Acceptance rate is also low because of its small class sizes and very selective process of choosing students. 

Bowdoin College Ranking: 

 In the U.S. News rankings, Bowdoin has consistently had a high position and is regarded as one of the nation’s top liberal arts universities. The college is well recognized for its vital academic programs and has produced several Rhodes Scholars and Fulbright Fellows. Accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, Bowdoin College ranking is #5th in U.S. News & World Report, and Washington Monthly has ranked Bowdoin College at 6th position. A list of some of the prominent Bowdoin College Ranking is as below, 

• National Liberal Arts Colleges – #6 
• Best Undergraduate Teaching – #3 
• Best Values Schools – #7 
• Most Innovative Schools – #21 
• First-Year Experiences – #15 

If you’re looking for a top-ranked liberal arts college, Bowdoin is definitely one to consider. 

Bowdoin College Acceptance rate, Enrollment and SAT/ACT scores statistics for last few years: 

Parameter	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Total applicants	7,052	6,935	6,790	6,788	7,251	9,081
Accepted	1,054	1034	1,009	970	988	932
Acceptance %	14.9%	14.9%	14.9%	14.3%	13.4%	8.9%
Enrolled	497	503	499	503	501	511
SAT scores	2050-2280	2050-2290	2050-2300	1290-1530	1290-1510	1300-1510
ACT scores	30-33	31-34	30-34	30-34	30-34	30-34

 Bowdoin College Admission process and requirements: 

With a selective acceptance rate, Bowdoin College has a rigorous admission process, followed by a three-phase deadline process, Early Decision 1, early decision two, and Regular decision admissions. 50% of the students, who got access to Bowdoin College, have SAT scores of between 1320 and 1520, ACT scores of between 31 and 34, and an average GPA of 3.93. Nevertheless, 25% of accepted applicants received scores above these limits, while 25% received scores below these levels. The Bowdoin College application deadline is November 5. And the Bowdoin application deadline for Early Decision applicants is November 15. Aspirants can fill out the application form at the college’s official website or through the common application portal. Also, a non-refundable application processing fee of $65 applies to every student. For the admission process at Bowdoin College, the following documents must be submitted.  

• High School transcripts 
• Secondary school transcripts 
• Mid-year report 
• Recommendation letters (three must be submitted) – one is a Counselor recommendation, the second is from the teacher, and the third can be from another teacher or supervisor. 
• Bowdoin Supplement essay 
• SAT and ACT scores are optional and left to the applicant’s decision. 

 Though it’s not compulsory to submit SAT and ACT scores for admission is not mandatory, many say it’s good to submit as it can help showcase your academic strength. And for the class of 2025, only 56% of students chose to submit their SAT and ACT scores. 

 Bowdoin College Majors and Minors: 

 The social, natural sciences, and behavioral, as well as mathematics, the humanities, and the fine arts, are the primary divisions across which majors declared by students are spread at Bowdoin. It offers 43 majors and 45 minor options to students. Also, students can choose self-designed majors. The most popular majors declared by students at Bowdoin College are as below. 

• Government and Legal Studies 
• Political Science and Government 
• Environmental Science 
• Economics 
• Mathematics 
• Biology 
• Computer Science 
• English 
• Neuroscience 
• History 
• Psychology
• Education 

 Along with Majors, Bowdoin College also offers minors, other specializations, and other exciting programs to its students. To explain it in another way, there are other options you can take to further your academic interests outside of your Bowdoin College major. 

 Bowdoin College Tuition and Financial Aid: 

 The tuition for the academic year 2022-23 is $60,952 yearly and $30,476 for one semester. Bowdoin College tuition is more expensive than the national average, around $44,423. The total cost of Bowdoin College for 2022-23 is approximately $78,300, which includes $8,722 for Board (19-meal plan), $8,050 for Housing, and $576 for Student Activities Fee. Bowdoin College also offers financial aid; the average student financial aid package is $62,350. With this, the total cost is $21,300 after discounting eligible students’ financial aid and scholarship prizes.