Bowdoin College

Brunswick, ME · Private non-profit · Liberal arts / baccalaureate college

SAT middle 50% (admitted students)

1470–1550

Median ~1510

Acceptance rate

Enrollment

1,873

ACT middle 50%

33–35

How Bowdoin College compares

The ~1510 SAT midpoint ranks #7 of 197 US colleges with published SAT ranges in this snapshot and #1 of 1 in ME.
Its 7% acceptance rate is more selective than 97% of the 197 colleges in the same ranked pool.
Median earnings 10 years after entry ($82,735) are $19,669 above the $63,066 median across that pool.

National SAT rank

#7 of 197

SAT rank in ME

#1 of 1

More selective than

97% of ranked colleges

Earnings vs national median

+$19,669

What the numbers say about Bowdoin College

The reported middle 50% spans 80 points, from 1470 to 1550. A planning score near or above 1590 gives you a target above that historical range, not an admission guarantee.
The Scorecard snapshot reports a 7% acceptance rate. That rate describes a past applicant pool and should not be read as your personal admission probability.
Reported outcomes include a 95% completion rate and $82,735 in median earnings 10 years after entry. Compare those figures with cost and program fit, not in isolation.

Understand a 1510 SAT score Plan for a 1600 Verify current admissions policy

Tuition and outcomes

Tuition (in-state)

$67,832

Tuition (out-of-state)

$67,832

Median earnings 10 years after entry

$82,735

4-year completion rate (150% time)

95%

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Documentation version September 2025; repository snapshot imported April 25, 2026. Scorecard fields can come from different reporting years, and this snapshot does not encode one universal data year. SAT totals are rounded to the nearest valid 10 points. Tuition excludes room, board, fees, and books. Read the methodology.

How your SAT score lines up

The Scorecard snapshot places the middle 50% of reported scores between 1470 and 1550. This is descriptive data, not an admission threshold or probability estimate.

1590 SAT planning target: Above the reported middle-50% range.
1550 SAT (reported 75th percentile): At the upper end of the reported middle-50% range.
1510 SAT (median): Within the upper half of the reported range.
1470 SAT (reported 25th percentile): Within the lower half of the reported range.

At or above 1550

Strong relative score

At the upper end of the reported range. Consider submitting if the current policy accepts scores.

1470–1540

Within the reported range

Compare your exact position, section split, and the rest of your academic record.

Below 1470

Below the reported range

Check the current testing policy before deciding whether to withhold the score or retake.

Compare to other colleges →

Colleges with similar SAT scores

Ranked by proximity to Bowdoin College's reported SAT midpoint. Similar scores do not imply similar programs, cost, or admission odds.

Scroll horizontally to view all columns →

College	Location	SAT middle 50%	Acceptance rate
Boston College	Chestnut Hill, MA	1440–1540	16%
Middlebury College	Middlebury, VT	1450–1550	11%
Washington and Lee University	Lexington, VA	1430–1540	14%
Carleton College	Northfield, MN	1450–1560	20%
University of Southern California	Los Angeles, CA	1450–1550	10%
Wellesley College	Wellesley, MA	1460–1560	14%

FAQs

What SAT score do I need for Bowdoin College?

Bowdoin College's Scorecard snapshot shows a middle-50% SAT range of 1470–1550, rounded to valid 10-point totals. 1590 is a planning target above the reported range, not an admission cutoff.

What is Bowdoin College's acceptance rate?

Bowdoin College's most recently reported acceptance rate is approximately 7%.

How much does it cost to attend Bowdoin College?

Published tuition is approximately $67,832 per year (excludes room, board, fees).

Is Bowdoin College test-optional?

Many US universities adjusted test policies after 2020. Check Bowdoin College's admissions page for current test-optional, test-required, or test-flexible policy.

Official site: www.bowdoin.edu