Getting in
For Fall 2025, 14,045 first-year students applied to Bowdoin, 957 were admitted and 515 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 6.8%.
Source: Bowdoin Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By residency, first-year applicants, Fall 2025
| Applicants | Applied | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state | 540 | 74 | 13.7% |
| Out-of-state | 7,464 | 807 | 10.8% |
| International | 6,041 | 76 | 1.3% |
Source: Bowdoin Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1, residency table. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By school or major. Bowdoin's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole college, with no rate by major.
Source: Bowdoin Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early decision. The Common Data Set gives early decision counts only for an earlier class, so this page shows no early decision acceptance rate. Bowdoin has no early action plan.
Source: Bowdoin Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Majors
44 majors across 2 schools. Every major in Bowdoin's official 2026-2027 Catalogue, including its interdisciplinary and coordinate majors, each leading to the bachelor of arts. Minors are left out.
Department and program majors35
- Africana Studies (B.A.)
- Anthropology (B.A.)
- Art History (B.A.)
- Asian Studies (B.A.)
- Biochemistry (B.A.)
- Biology (B.A.)
- Chemistry (B.A.)
- Classics (B.A.)
- Computer Science (B.A.)
- Digital and Computational Studies (coordinate major) (B.A.)
- Earth and Oceanographic Science (B.A.)
- Economics (B.A.)
- Education (coordinate major) (B.A.)
- English (B.A.)
- Environmental Studies (coordinate major) (B.A.)
- Francophone Studies (B.A.)
- Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies (B.A.)
- German (B.A.)
- Government and Legal Studies (B.A.)
- Hispanic Studies (B.A.)
- History (B.A.)
- Italian Studies (B.A.)
- Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies (B.A.)
- Mathematics (B.A.)
- Music (B.A.)
- Neuroscience (B.A.)
- Philosophy (B.A.)
- Physics (B.A.)
- Psychology (B.A.)
- Religion (B.A.)
- Romance Languages and Literatures (B.A.)
- Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (B.A.)
- Sociology (B.A.)
- Theater and Dance (B.A.)
- Visual Arts (B.A.)
Source: Bowdoin Catalogue 2026-2027, Departments and Programs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Interdisciplinary majors9
- Art History and Archaeology (B.A.)
- Art History and Visual Arts (B.A.)
- Chemical Physics (B.A.)
- Computer Science and Mathematics (B.A.)
- Economics and Computer Science (B.A.)
- English and Theater (B.A.)
- Mathematics and Economics (B.A.)
- Mathematics and Education (B.A.)
- Physics and Education (B.A.)
Source: Bowdoin Catalogue 2026-2027, Interdisciplinary Majors (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Deadlines for Fall 2027
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
| Plan | Apply by | Decision | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision 1 | November 15 | Mid-December | Yes |
| Early Decision 2 | January 5 | Early February | Yes |
| Regular Decision | January 5 | Mid-March | No |
The application opens August 1. Recommendations, transcripts and other materials are accepted after the deadline. The optional Arts Supplement is due November 15 for Early Decision 1 and January 13 for Early Decision 2 and Regular Decision. Bowdoin is also a QuestBridge partner; for QuestBridge Match applicants, the Arts Supplement and financial aid materials are due November 1.
Source: Bowdoin Admissions, Application Dates and Deadlines (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early Decision is binding: you, a parent and your school counselor sign an Early Decision Agreement, for students who believe Bowdoin is their top choice.
Source: Bowdoin Admissions, Apply (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Testing
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
Bowdoin has been test-optional since 1969: the SAT and ACT are not required. The application asks, test by test, whether you want your scores used, and you can change that choice until the deadline. Homeschooled applicants send a graded paper or lab assignment, or test scores.
Source: Bowdoin Admissions, Apply (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
The Common Data Set also marks the SAT or ACT as considered if submitted, not required, for fall 2027 applicants, with scores due by January 5.
Source: Bowdoin Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Applying next year?
For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028
Not announced yet. When we checked Bowdoin's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.
Source: Bowdoin Admissions, Apply (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Cost, and what families paid after aid
The published cost of a year at Bowdoin, 2026-2027:
| Tuition | $74,268 |
|---|---|
| Fees | $700 |
| Housing | $10,106 |
| Food (21-meal plan) | $10,326 |
| Books, course materials and supplies | $840 |
| Personal expenses | $1,660 |
| Travel | not published |
| Total | $97,900 |
Travel depends on where you live, so it is not in the $97,900 total; Bowdoin writes the total as $97,900 or more.
Source: Bowdoin Student Aid, 2026-2027 Cost of Attendance (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:
| Family income | Paid after grants |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $3,145 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $2,800 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $9,007 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $13,801 |
| Over $110,000 | $35,196 |
| All incomes | $14,398 |
What first-year, full-time students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from Bowdoin's aid offer.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Similar schools
Chosen for how close each is to Bowdoin College on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.
Colby CollegeWaterville, ME · Private7.1% admitted$17,180 average net price
Amherst CollegeAmherst, MA · Private7.7% admitted$23,367 average net price
Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH · Private6% admitted$29,519 average net price
Brown UniversityProvidence, RI · Private6.3% admitted$25,184 average net price
Williams CollegeWilliamstown, MA · Private8.6% admitted$17,716 average net price
Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.