B+
Very Good
Score: 76/100
Overall (traditional)
A+
Outcome Rating
96/100 · earnings-weighted

Bowdoin College

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Brunswick, Maine 04011
Bowdoin College campus, Brunswick, ME
Bowdoin College campus, Brunswick, ME. Photo: Polarbear 11, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
A+
97/100
Affordability
F
27/100
Resources
A
83/100
Experience
A+
94/100
Prestige
A
80/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

1,850
Total Enrollment
96%
Graduation Rate
98%
Retention Rate
9.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
8%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Bowdoin College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$82,735
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$61,692
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$18,500
Median debt at graduation
95.3%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,520
Average SAT
17.4%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 22% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 96th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (ME wage index 0.89). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Bowdoin College

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer Science—$137,611+29%#45 of 349#30—
Economics$75,867$121,983+48%#28 of 368#16$19,500
Mathematics$90,213—————
Political Science and Government$60,626$89,253+41%#19 of 565#13$19,634
Area Studies$45,315$75,966+34%#4 of 70#5$24,000
English Language and Literature$49,421—————
Sociology$47,749—————
Neurobiology and Neurosciences$43,373————$19,500

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Bowdoin College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $506,510
  • Avg rent near campus: $2,156/mo — vs ~$943/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 04252 (4.0% cap, Lisbon Falls)

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Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $64,304 $64,304
Room $8,488
Board $9,202
Total Cost (On-Campus) $85,100 $85,100

Financial Aid

55%
Receive Any Aid
18%
Receive Pell Grants
11%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Student Demographics

1,850
Total Students
52%
Women
98%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 52%
Hispanic 13%
Black 5%
Asian 11%
Two or More 10%
Non-Resident 7%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 100%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 98%
25-64 (Adult) 1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Bowdoin College?
Bowdoin College has an acceptance rate of 8%. This makes it a highly selective institution where admission is very competitive.
How much does it cost to attend Bowdoin College?
Tuition at Bowdoin College is $64,304 for in-state students and $64,304 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at Bowdoin College?
The graduation rate at Bowdoin College is 96%. This is considered an excellent graduation rate, indicating strong student success and support systems.
Is Bowdoin College a good school?
Bowdoin College has a Repit College Score of 76/100 (Grade: B+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (A): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (A): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Bowdoin College?
Bowdoin College has a total enrollment of 1,850 students. Most students (98%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

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🎓 Similar Colleges to Bowdoin College

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

B+
Colby College
Waterville, ME · 2,284 students
B+
Bates College
Lewiston, ME · 1,753 students
C
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME · 1,463 students
C
Husson University
Bangor, ME · 3,133 students
C
Thomas College
Waterville, ME · 1,669 students
C+
Maine College of Health Professions
Lewiston, ME · 228 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology