Bowdoin College
A good fit for high-achieving applicants seeking a top-tier program and families looking for lower cost. no major red flags in the data. graduates earn a median of $83,300 within 10 years; exceptional 95% graduation rate.
About This School
Bowdoin College is a private nonprofit institution located in Brunswick, Maine with approximately 1,873 undergraduate students enrolled. Admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 7%. The average net price after financial aid is $14,398 per year. The graduation rate is 95%, and the typical graduate earns $83,300 within 10 years of enrollment.
Bowdoin College is a private liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine, United States. It was chartered in 1794.
This is a strong option for students who thrive in a tight-knit academic environment — a 98% freshman retention rate and 96% graduation rate signal that students who get in tend to be genuinely happy and finish strong. With median debt of just $12,000 at graduation and median earnings of $83,300 a decade out, the financial picture is unusually healthy for a liberal arts college. The main concern is simply getting in: an 8% acceptance rate makes Bowdoin one of the most selective schools in the country, so treat it as a reach unless your profile is exceptionally strong.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 25% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Bowdoin College graduates earn most above the national rate in Economics ($121,983 vs $82,686 nationally).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | 85 | $121,983 | $82,686 | +$39,297 |
| Political Science and Government | 77 | $89,253 | $63,293 | +$25,960 |
| Area Studies | 39 | $75,966 | $56,625 | +$19,341 |
| Computer Science | 28 | $137,611 | $107,009 | +$30,602 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (1,873 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Bowdoin College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Bowdoin College?
Bowdoin College has an acceptance rate of 7%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Bowdoin College hard to get into?
Yes. With an acceptance rate of 7%, Bowdoin College is highly selective, so strong grades, a rigorous course load, and a standout application matter.
How much does Bowdoin College cost?
The average net price at Bowdoin College is about $14,398 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Bowdoin College?
Bowdoin College has a graduation rate of 95%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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