Financial Campus Overview Fields

Admissions

Acceptance rate

% of applicants accepted

 
Overall: 7%
 
Male: 7%
 
Female: 7%
 
In-state: 14%
 
Out-of-state: 11%
 
Domestic: 11%
 
International: 1%
Yield rate

% accepted that attend

 
Overall: 53%
 
Male: 53%
 
Female: 53%
 
In-state: 72%
 
Out-of-state: 52%
 
Domestic: 54%
 
International: 55%
emoji_objects Colleges with a high % of accepted students deciding to attend often offer less merit aid.
Early admit detail
  % acceptance rate Early to regular help % admits
  EarlyRegular Ratio Of class
ED 2026 27% 7% 3.7x 53%
ED 2027 26% 7% 3.7x 53%
ED 2028 18% 6% 2.8x 55%
ED 2029 13% 6% 2.2x 53%

High school GPA

Optional

High school rank

Optional

High school transcript

Required

Recommendation letters

Required

Personal statement or essay

Required

Legacy status

Optional

Accepts Common App

Yes

Accepts Coalition App

Yes

English Proficiency (Int'l)

Optional
bowdoin.edu: Admissions | Apply

Academics

Test policy

Optional
SAT

31% submit

25-75% help
50%
 
 
SAT range: 1470 - 1550
1520
 
 
Math: 740 - 780
770
 
 
EBRW: 730 - 770
750
ACT

17% submit

25-75% help
50%
 
 
ACT range: 33 - 35
34
 
 
Math: 30 - 34
32
 
 
English: 35 - 36
35
emoji_objects Test scores skew higher for colleges with low submit rates as only students with high scores tend to submit.
Link App cycle SAT superscore ACT superscore Your score choice help Self report scores
24-25
Yes
Yes 		Yes Yes

HS GPA of enrolled freshman

3.95

Essays

  • Common App
    2024-2025 Essay Prompts
    650 word limit
    		 Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
    		 The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
    		 Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
    		 Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
    		 Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
    		 Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
    		 Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
    Optional question
    250 word limit
    		 Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces.
  • Coalition App
    2024-2025 Essay Prompts
    650 word limit
    		 Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
    		 What interests or excites you? How does it shape who you are now or who you might become in the future?
    		 Describe a time when you had a positive impact on others. What were the challenges? What were the rewards?
    		 Has there been a time when an idea or belief of yours was questioned? How did you respond? What did you learn?
    		 What success have you achieved or obstacle have you faced? What advice would you give a sibling or friend going through a similar experience?
    		 Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.

Financial aid

Grant or scholarship aid

% awarded aid
 
55%
$ avg. award
 
$62,872
 
56.0%
 
$59,125
Freshman
All undergrads

Freshman aid detail help

Aid type % awarded aid $ avg. award $ total awarded
Any financial aid
 
60%
 --
Federal grants
 
19%
 $7,362 $706,720
Pell grants
 
19%
 $6,018 $577,720
Other federal
 
8%
 $3,000 $117,000
State/local grants
 
2%
 $2,500 $20,000
Institutional grants
 
55%
 $60,229 $16,563,111
Student loans
 
6%
 $11,912 $345,453
Federal loans
 
6%
 $5,238 $146,677
Other loans
 
1%
 $28,397 $198,776
emoji_objects Merit aid based on student academics is primarily from institutional grants paid by the college.
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