Bowdoin College

10/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Brunswick, ME
5.0 1 review

#25 Best Colleges in America

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

1,881

Location Brunswick, Maine
Website bowdoin.edu
Type Private 4 Year
Setting Distant Town

Best Colleges Rank

#25

Size Small
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad

Bowdoin College, located in Brunswick, Maine, approximately 25 miles north of Portland, occupies a historic 215-acre campus featuring Federal and Greek Revival architecture. Founded in 1794, the private liberal arts institution maintains a selective admission process and operates on a residential college model where students are required to live on campus for their first two years. The college is known for its strength in environmental studies, government and legal studies, economics, and marine science programs, leveraging its coastal location through its Coastal Studies Center on Orr's Island. Bowdoin's academic offerings emphasize small class sizes and close faculty interaction, while its campus integrates traditional New England buildings with modern facilities including the Roux Center for the Environment and Schiller Coastal Studies Center. The college competes in NCAA Division III athletics as the Polar Bears, maintaining a particular reputation in field hockey and sailing.

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Ratings

Bowdoin College is rated within the top 6% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 10 out of 10.

Overall Rating

10 out of 10
Academics

10 out of 10
Resources

10 out of 10
Outcomes

10 out of 10
Value

10 out of 10

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Rankings

Rankings for Bowdoin College within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

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Admissions

Admission Standards

Exceptional

SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1470/1550
ACT (enrolled mid-50) 33/35

Acceptance Rate

7.1%

Applications Due Jan 5, 2027
Enrollment Rate 53.6%
Application Fee $65

Applicant Competition Extreme

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Annual Cost to Attend

Tuition

$67,832

Costs for Bowdoin College
Fee		Cost
Tuition		$67,832
Books and Supplies		$840
Other Fees		$634
Room and Board		$18,488
Budget for Other Expenses		$1,660
Total One Year Cost		$89,454

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Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$75,000 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

92% within 6 years

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Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at Bowdoin College are Social Sciences, Biology, and Foreign Languages. 28% of students major in Social Sciences, 17% in Biology, and 9% in Foreign Languages.