Bowdoin College was founded in 1794 by a group of prominent citizens in the town of Brunswick, Maine. It was the first college to be chartered in the state of Maine and is still one of the oldest colleges in the United States. The college was named after former Massachusetts governor James Bowdoin. Its original purpose was to provide a liberal education for young men from Maine, New England, and beyond.
Bowdoin has an impressive history of academic excellence and has been ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in America since its founding. It has produced many notable graduates, including eight Nobel Prize winners and multiple Pulitzer Prize winners. In addition to its academic achievements, Bowdoin is known for its commitment to community service, having produced over 5,000 Peace Corps volunteers since 1961. The college is also home to one of the country’s oldest student-run radio stations as well as numerous student-run publications such as The Bowdoin Orient and The Bowdoin Review.
The campus itself has grown significantly over time with more than two dozen buildings added since its founding. These include a chapel, library, art museum and performing arts center. In addition to these facilities, Bowdoin boasts an extensive network of trails that meander through wooded areas on campus offering students opportunities for outdoor recreation and exploration.
From providing a rigorous academic program to fostering meaningful relationships between students and faculty through extracurricular activities like student organizations or outdoor recreation opportunities, Bowdoin College continues to serve as an example of excellence in higher education today just as it did nearly two centuries ago when it first opened its doors. Check top-engineering-schools for a list of engineering schools in Missouri.
Bowdoin College, as one of the top colleges ranked by major educational institutions, has impressed us by its high selectivity and student friendly application process during admissions. The following tables detail 2018 class profile, including total applications received, average high school GPA, SAT scores/ACT scores, and acceptance rates of Bowdoin College. To learn more about GPA, SAT and ACT scores information, please follow the links below. If you want to find even more about Bowdoin College, such as tuition fees and scholarships, you can click the link after tables to visit the school’s official website.
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Admissions Stats
Bowdoin College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in Brunswick, Maine. The college has an acceptance rate of 15%, making it one of the most competitive colleges in the country. In 2019, Bowdoin admitted 1,764 students out of 11,818 applicants. Of those admitted, 54% were women and 46% were men. The average SAT scores for accepted students were 1410 (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math) and the average ACT score was 32. The middle 50% of enrolled students had an SAT range of 1330-1490 (EBRW + Math) and an ACT composite range of 29-34. Students come from all over the world with 43 states represented as well as countries such as China, India, South Korea, Canada and Mexico among others. Additionally, 26% are first-generation college students and 10% are international students. Bowdoin is committed to providing a diverse student body with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences that contribute to its vibrant community.
Fall 2022 Selectivity
| Selectivity | most selective |
| Fall 2022 acceptance rate | 20% |
| Early decision acceptance rate | 31% |
| Early action acceptance rate | N/A |
| Acceptance rate (excluding early action and early decision students) | 18% |
Fall 2022 Applications, Acceptances & Enrollments
| Applicants | 6,018 |
| Female applicants | 3,436 |
| Male applicants | 2,582 |
| Applicants accepted | 1,183 |
| Female applicants accepted | 595 |
| Male applicants accepted | 588 |
| Freshman enrollment | 510 |
| Female freshman enrollment | 250 |
| Male freshman enrollment | 260 |
| Early decision applicants | 740 |
| Early decision applicants accepted | 226 |
| Early decision applicants enrolled | 219 |
| Early action applicants | N/A |
| Early action applicants accepted | N/A |
| Early action applicants enrolled | N/A |
| Total enrolled incoming freshmen who were accepted under early acceptance or early action | 43% |
Fall 2022 Wait List
| School has a wait list | Yes |
| Applicants placed on wait list | N/A |
| Students accepting place on wait list | N/A |
| Students accepted from wait list | N/A |
Fall 2022 High School Rank
| Freshman students submitting high school class standing | 51% |
Fall 2022 High School GPA
| Freshman students submitting high school GPA | N/A |
| Average high school GPA | N/A |
| High school GPA 25th-75th percentile range | N/A |
| GPA breakdown | N/A |
Fall 2022 Freshman SAT Scores
| Freshman students submitting SAT scores | 70% |
| SAT Critical Reading average score | 710 |
| SAT Critical Reading 25th-75th percentile range | 650-750 |
| SAT Math average score | 700 |
| SAT Math 25th-75th percentile range: | 660-750 |
| SAT Writing average score | 710 |
| SAT Writing 25th-75th percentile range | 660-750 |
| SAT Essay 25th-75th percentile range | N/A |
Fall 2022 Freshman ACT Scores
| Freshman students submitting ACT scores | 33% |
| Average ACT Composite score | 32 |
| ACT Composite 25th-75th percentile range | 30-33 |
| ACT English 25th-75th percentile range | 30-35 |
| ACT Math 25th-75th percentile range | 29-34 |