Visited 8/11/22
At a Glance
Brunswick, Maine
Undergraduate Students: 1,777
Student to Faculty Ratio: 8:1
Acceptance Rate: 9%
Six Year Graduation Rate: 95%
Freshman Retention Rate: 86%
Popular Majors: Economics, Government, Math, Neuroscience
The Feel
Bowdoin is set on a beautiful, unassuming campus in historic Brunswick, Maine. Pine trees scatter the property, leaving a large grassy quad in the middle of the campus. A chapel bell rings regularly.
Student life is integral to the college’s tight knit community feel. There are eight “college houses” open to all students which serve as Bowdoin’s alternative to Greek life, which is prohibited for Bowdoin students. In its place, each house offers social opportunities, a meeting space and hosts various events; houses serve as the “living rooms” of the campus.
A five minute walk from campus will take students to a charming downtown with coffee shops and restaurants, and just a few minute drive for shopping. A seven minute walk takes students to the Amtrak station which goes to Portland or Boston.
The campus wellness center offers meditation, yoga and fitness and mindfulness classes.
Standout Points
Every summer around 200 students participate in paid summer research, and housing is covered!
Bowdoin owns multiple islands for marine ecology and related research.
The largest class size is 50 students and the student to faculty ratio is 8:1, making instruction and feedback personal.
Bowdoin is one of a small number of colleges that cover 100% of financial need and do not package loans. All their aid requires no pay back.
Every class has ‘learning assistants’ for student support and professors maintain generous office hours.
Centers dedicated to environmentalism, gender/sexuality, diversity, women's studies, Japanese studies and more.
Great career and exploration center that offers boot camps for professional skills.
Large focus on being eco friendly. Dorms have competitions on who can be the most energy efficient.
Fun Fact
Bowdoin has been conducting exploration and research in the Arctic since 1860! The Arctic Studies Center provides students who are interested in the economy, cultures, and environment of this special region with hands-on research opportunities.
Bottom Line Fit: For the environmental and outdoor enthusiast, the lover of science who appreciates liberal arts, or simply a young scholar who is looking for rigorous academics in a very small, nurturing setting near the rocky, Main coast.
Learn more about Bowdoin College!