A complete guide to Bowdoin College ranking

About Bowdoin College

Located in Brunswick, Maine, Bowdoin College is a private liberal arts college. In 1794, Maine was still a part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts when Bowdoin came into existence. There are 34 majors and 36 minors available at the college, as well as several joint engineering programs with Columbia, Caltech, Dartmouth College, and the University of Maine. The college is active in sports events and was a founding member of its athletic conference as well. The college is also responsible for establishing the New England Small College Athletic Conference, as well as the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortium, which includes Bates College and Colby College. Bowdoin has over 30 varsity teams, and the polar bear became the school mascot in 1913 to honor Robert Peary, a Bowdoin alumnus who led the first successful expedition to the North Pole. In this blog, we will discuss more about Bowdoin College ranking.

Bowdoin College | Facts and figures

Bowdoin College has 1,951 undergraduate students (fall 2021), a suburban setting, and a campus size of 215 acres. The academic calendar at Bowdoin is semester-based. Bowdoin College has the 6th position in the National Liberal Arts Colleges rankings (Best Colleges 2022-2023 edition). The total tuition and fees for a course at Bowdoin is $61,528.

As part of the college’s active sports participation, the Bowdoin Polar Bears compete in 30 varsity sports in the NCAA Division III New England Small College Athletic Conference. There are over 100 student organizations at Bowdoin.

Student activities

The college also encourages various leisure activities. The Outing Club, one of the largest and most active groups, offers approximately 150 excursions per year. Founded in 1805, the Peucinian Society is one of the country’s oldest literary and intellectual societies, with alumni such as poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Bowdoin replaced fraternities with a system of college-owned social houses in 1997. Freshmen must live on campus and receive a college house with residential social activities.

Unique features of Bowdoin

Bowdoin was a men’s college until 1971 when the first female students got admission to the college. In 1969, it was also the first school to make the SAT and ACT exams optional on its application. More than half of Bowdoin students study abroad for a semester through one of the university’s more than 100 academic programs. This shows that the college focuses on inclusivity and diversity. Olympic gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson, author Nathaniel Hawthorne, activist and educator Geoffrey Canada, former US President Franklin Pierce, and NBC News investigative correspondent Cynthia McFadden are among the college’s notable alumni.

Reasons why Bowdoin ranks high

Bowdoin College ranks high on most college-ranking websites. As a result, many people think about applying to this private liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine. Due to its low acceptance rate and tuition that is significantly higher than the national average, many students find applying to it intimidating. The college also offers financial aid for students who are facing problems paying for the programs.

In the late 1960s, it was the first college to go test-optional. It is famous for having a high rate of retention and graduation. Political Science, History, and Mathematics are among the most popular majors at Bowdoin College. All these features make Bowdoin one of the most sought-after liberal arts colleges in the US.

Rankings

US News and World Report rankings

2022 rankings

• 6 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie)
• 3 in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie)
• 7 in Best Value Schools
• 23 in Most Innovative Schools (tie)
• 134 in Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie)
• 18 in Learning Communities (tie)
• 22 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects (tie)
• 15 in First-Year Experiences (tie)

U.S. News overall score

• Score (out of 100)- 91

Outcomes 

• Average 6-year graduation rate- 95%
• 6-year graduation rate of students who received a Pell Grant- 91%

Faculty resources

• Classes with fewer than 20 students- 63.6%
• Classes with 50 or more students- 1%
• Student-faculty ratio- 9:1

Niche rankings

The niche conducts a thorough examination of key statistics from the US Department of Education as well as millions of reviews for its institute rankings.

• Best Liberal Arts College in America- 4 of 314
• Best small colleges in America- 5 of 969
• Best Colleges for Global Studies in America- 7 of 209

Forbes list rankings

• 48 in Top Colleges 2022
• 32 in Private Colleges
• 7 in Liberal Arts Universities
• 21 in The Northeast
• 81 in America’s Best Value Colleges 2019

Money’s best colleges rankings

• Rank- 18 in Best Selective Colleges
• Overall score- 82.65

CWUR (Center for World University Rankings)

Bowdoin College Ranking 2022-2023

• World Rank- 1182
• National Rank- 242
• Education Rank- 113
• Employability Rank- 81
• Overall score- 69.2

Best colleges rankings

• 5 Rank in Best Philosophy Programs

Other rankings

Bowdoin College’s women’s indoor track team jumped into the first U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association Division III national rankings.

The Polar Bears had a 17th position in the NCAA Division III Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index, which is based entirely on outstanding results from the 2022 indoor track & field season. Bowdoin’s 17th position in Division III this winter was a result of a number of outstanding individual performances at the start of the season.

Key takeaways

• Located in Brunswick, Maine, Bowdoin College is a private liberal arts college. It has 34 majors and 36 minors available at the college, as well as several joint engineering programs with Columbia, Caltech, Dartmouth College, and the University of Maine. 
• Bowdoin College is famous for being highly selective and historic. It is also famous for having a high rate of retention and graduation. Political Science, History, and Mathematics are among the most popular majors at Bowdoin College.
• Bowdoin ranks high in several national and global rankings. Publications such as Forbes also include Bowdoin in its top college rankings. 

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FAQs

Q1. Is Bowdoin College an Ivy League school?

Ans- The college is part of Little Ivies. Amherst, Bowdoin, Colby, and Vassar are among the Little Ivies.

Q2. What GPA do you need to get into Bowdoin?

Ans- You should have a GPA of 3.93 or higher to get admission to Bowdoin. If your GPA is lower, you must make up the difference with a higher SAT/ACT score. You’ll also need to impress the selection committee with the rest of your application for a school like Bowdoin.

Q3. Can I apply to Bowdoin for free?

Ans- Admission applicants must submit a $65 application fee. For first-generation college students and/or students seeking financial aid from the College, application fees are automatically waived.