Bowdoin College Acceptance Rate
Brunswick, Maine · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 10,966
- Admitted
- 879
- Yield
- 57.3%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Bowdoin College's acceptance rate has fallen from 14.9% in 2014–15 to 8% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 6,935 to 10,966 (+58%) over that period.
Its 8% rate makes Bowdoin College more selective than about 98% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 15 tracked Maine schools, it is more selective than about 87%.
Bowdoin College has been test-optional since 2022–23. Of admitted students, 57.3% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 6,935 | 1,034 | 14.9% | 503 |
| 2015–16 | 6,790 | 1,010 | 14.9% | 500 |
| 2016–17 | 6,799 | 1,009 | 14.8% | 503 |
| 2017–18 | 7,251 | 988 | 13.6% | 501 |
| 2018–19 | 9,081 | 932 | 10.3% | 510 |
| 2019–20 | 9,332 | 845 | 9.1% | 499 |
| 2020–21 | 9,402 | 861 | 9.2% | 464 |
| 2021–22 | 9,325 | 822 | 8.8% | 517 |
| 2022–23 | 9,376 | 862 | 9.2% | 508 |
| 2023–24 | 10,966 | 879 | 8% | 504 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 6,101 | 459 | 7.5% |
| Men | 4,865 | 420 | 8.6% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 730–760 | 37% |
| SAT Math | 750–790 | |
| ACT Composite | 33–35 | 22% |
How Bowdoin College compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Bowdoin College's acceptance rate?
Bowdoin College's acceptance rate is 8% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (879 admitted of 10,966 applicants).
Is Bowdoin College test optional?
Bowdoin College is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Bowdoin College?
Bowdoin College received 10,966 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 879.
What SAT score do you need for Bowdoin College?
Admitted students at Bowdoin College typically scored 730–760 on SAT Reading/Writing and 750–790 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Bowdoin College getting harder to get into?
Bowdoin College has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 14.9% in 2014–15 to 8% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.bowdoin.edu/.