Admission to the College

Each year the Admissions Committee at Bowdoin College evaluates applications for admission through its three application programs: Early Decision I, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision. The College strives to attract a diverse, multitalented, intellectually adventurous student body. In selecting the first-year class, the Committee pays close attention to a variety of factors; these include a student’s academic achievements, extracurricular involvements, and potential to contribute to the Bowdoin community.

Bowdoin requires all applicants to submit the Common Application, or the Coalition Application, or the QuestBridge Application and complete the Bowdoin Supplement. These applications provide students with a uniform framework to present their credentials. No preference is given among the applications.

While no single factor determines a candidate’s eligibility for admission, Bowdoin College is, first and foremost, an academic institution. Therefore, an applicant’s high school performance and the level of challenge represented by the coursework are of particular interest to the members of the Admissions Committee. Each applicant must make arrangements with the appropriate high school administrator to submit all official high school transcripts. The Admissions Committee strives to understand each student’s performance in the proper context and therefore requires high school administrators to submit a Secondary School Report (SSR) and a High School Profile. Doing so enables the Committee to properly interpret the information presented on the transcript(s). Ideally, the profile illuminates individual high school policies regarding issues such as weighting of grades, rank in class, Honors/AP/ IB course offerings, etc. Comments from school officials on the SSR as well as a letter of recommendation from one teacher who has taught the student in an academic core subject (core subjects include English, math, lab sciences, social sciences, and foreign languages) and one additional teacher or other recommendation can also help the Admissions Office better understand a prospective student’s preparation for Bowdoin. Since 1969, the College has made the submission of standardized testing an optional part of the application. Prospective students may decide whether or not their individual test results will enhance their academic profile and application. Home-schooled students and students attending high schools with narrative evaluations only must submit either a graded paper or lab assignment between three and five pages in length that includes written feedback and grading metrics—or results from either the SAT or ACT, in addition to their other application materials.

Because of the residential nature of the College, the strong emphasis on community values, and a core belief in collaboration and the open exchange of ideas both in and beyond the classroom, the Admissions Committee does not limit its assessment to a student’s transcript and testing. Students have the opportunity, through the personal statement and the optional supplemental essay and video response, to reveal the quality and depth of their thinking, their ability to communicate ideas in writing, and how they approach learning and the opportunity to interact with others. Students also detail the activities that have captured their interest, areas of accomplishment and recognition, and how they have focused their energies outside the classroom. When possible, applicants are encouraged to visit the campus, interview, and/or attend a virtual event or offering. Interviews are available from early June until early December. Students who choose to interview with a Bowdoin alumnus or alumna must submit their requests before December 1 of each year.

All Early Decision and Regular Decision admissions decisions for US citizens, permanent residents, and international students are made under a “need-blind” policy. Under this policy, an applicant’s financial resources are not a factor in determining whether or not the student will be admitted.  All students who anticipate needing financial aid are required to complete an aid application. See Financial Aid, below, for more details. Since the fall of 2016, Bowdoin waives the application fee for any student applying for financial aid from the College, and/or for first-generation students (neither parent has a degree from a four-year institution).

More information is available at bowdoin.edu/admissions.

Admission: Policies and Procedures

In May 1989, the Governing Boards of Bowdoin College approved the following statement on admissions:

Bowdoin College is, first and foremost, an academic institution. Hence academic accomplishments and talents are given the greatest weight in the admissions process. While accomplishments beyond academic achievements are considered in admissions decisions, these are not emphasized to the exclusion of those applicants who will make a contribution to Bowdoin primarily in the academic life of the College. In particular, applicants with superior academic records or achievements are admitted regardless of their other accomplishments. All Bowdoin students must be genuinely committed to the pursuit of a liberal arts education, and therefore all successful applicants must demonstrate that they can and will engage the curriculum seriously and successfully.

At the same time that it is an academic institution, Bowdoin is also a residential community. To enhance the educational scope and stimulation of that community, special consideration in the admissions process is given to applicants who represent a culture, region, or background that will contribute to the diversity of the College. To ensure that the College community thrives, special consideration in the admissions process is also given to applicants who have demonstrated talents in leadership, in communication, in social service, and in other fields of endeavor that will contribute to campus life and to the common good thereafter. And to support the extracurricular activities that constitute an important component of the overall program at Bowdoin, and that enrich the life of the campus community, special consideration in the admissions process is also given to applicants with talents in the arts, in athletics, and in other areas in which the College has programs. The goal is a student body that shares the common characteristic of intellectual commitment but within which there is a considerable range of backgrounds, interests, and talents.

Although Bowdoin does not require that a student seeking admission take a prescribed number of courses, the typical entering first-year student will have had four years each of English, foreign language, mathematics, and social science, and three to four years of laboratory sciences. Further, most will have taken courses in the arts, music, and computer science.

Candidates applying to Bowdoin College are evaluated by members of the admissions staff in terms of the following factors: academic record, the level of challenge represented in the candidate’s coursework, counselor/teacher/other recommendations, application and essays, overall academic potential, school and community involvement, leadership, and personal qualities.

Application and Admission Procedures

Students may apply to Bowdoin through the regular admissions program or through either of two early decision programs. The application deadline for Early Decision I is November 15. The deadline for Early Decision II and Regular Decision is January 5. Application materials for all programs are the same, except that early decision applicants must also complete the Early Decision Agreement that is included with the application materials.

The Application includes the Personal Application, the Secondary School Report, a Mid-Year School Report, one Teacher Evaluation form, one other Teacher or Other Evaluation form, an optional arts supplement and optional video response, and the Early Decision form, if applicable. Students may apply using the Common Application or the Coalition Application; the requirements are the same, with no preference on which application is submitted. The College is also a QuestBridge partner and accepts match and non-match applications (with the required Bowdoin Supplement). Those who wish to be considered for financial aid must file the College Scholarship Service Profile online or the appropriate international aid forms. US citizens and permanent residents seeking financial aid are required to complete the FAFSA. Applicants for admission must also submit the $65 application fee or an application fee waiver. Application fees are automatically waived for first-generation-to-college students and/or for any student applying for financial aid from the College.

Regular First-Year Admission

The following items constitute a completed admissions folder:

1. The Common Application, or the Coalition Application, or the QuestBridge Application, and Bowdoin Supplement submitted with the application fee ($65). The deadline for regular applications is January 5.

2. School Report: The college advisor’s assessment of the candidate’s character and accomplishments and a copy of the secondary school transcript should be submitted to Bowdoin no later than January 5. A transcript of grades through the midyear marking period (Mid-Year School Report) should be returned to Bowdoin by February 15.

3. Recommendations: Each candidate is required to submit one teacher recommendation, which should be completed by a core academic subject teacher. Core academic subjects are English, foreign language, mathematics, science, and social studies. An additional teacher or other recommendation must also be completed. Recommendations should be submitted as soon as possible and no later than January 5.

4. College Board or ACT Scores: Bowdoin is test-optional and allows each applicant to decide if their standardized test results should be considered as part of the application. In recent years, up to 46 percent of Bowdoin’s matriculating applicants chose not to submit standardized test results. The candidate is responsible for making arrangements to take the examinations and for ensuring that Bowdoin receives the scores if they want them to be considered as part of the application. Students should arrange for an official report of the scores to be sent by the testing agency. Scores may also be submitted by a school counselor or the student may submit them through their Application Portal. Students choosing to submit their SAT I (Reasoning Test) or ACT scores should complete all examinations no later than January of the senior year if applying under the Regular Decision program. Students will indicate their choice regarding use of tests on the application.

5. Visit and Interview: A personal interview is strongly encouraged. Interviews are available with a member of the admissions staff or a senior interviewer. A number of carefully selected and trained Bowdoin senior students conduct interviews to supplement regular staff appointments during the summer months and from September into December. In-person and virtual interviews are available from early June through early December. In addition, members of the Bowdoin Regional Admissions Volunteer Organization (BRAVO) are available worldwide to provide interviews locally or virtually.

6. Notification: All candidates will receive a final decision on their application for admission by the end of March. A commitment to enroll is not required of any first-year candidate (except those applying for Early Decision) until May 1. To accept an offer of admission from Bowdoin, a student must submit a $300 admissions deposit or a deposit waiver/statement of matriculation confirmation, which is credited to the first semester’s bill.

7. Bowdoin will waive the application fee for any first-generation-to-college student and/or for any student applying for financial aid from the College. 

8. All acceptances are contingent upon completion of the senior year in good academic and social standing.

Early Decision

Bowdoin offers admission through two Early Decision programs in addition to the Regular Decision round. Candidates who are certain that Bowdoin is their first choice may wish to consider this option. The guidelines for Early Decision are as follows:

1. Candidates’ application files must include the Early Decision agreement form, indicating that they wish to be considered for Early Decision and that they will enroll if admitted. Early Decision candidates may file regular or non-binding early applications at other colleges, but only with the understanding that these will be withdrawn and no new applications will be initiated if they are accepted under an Early Decision plan.

2. The Common Application, or the Coalition Application, or the QuestBridge Application, essays, accompanied by the Early Decision agreement, a School Report Form, a secondary school transcript of grades, one teacher recommendation, one other recommendation, and the application fee of $65 (or fee-waiver) must be submitted to Bowdoin by November 15 for Early Decision I (notification by mid-December), or by January 5 for Early Decision II (notification by mid-February).

3. Candidates admitted via Early Decision who have financial need as established through review of required financial aid documents by the College will be notified of the amount of their award along with their Early Decision acceptance, provided their financial aid forms are on file at Bowdoin by the application deadlines.

4. Submit SAT or ACT scores if the candidate so desires.

5. An Early Decision acceptance is contingent upon completion of the senior year in good academic and social standing.

6. There are three possible admission decisions for Early Decision I candidates: admission to Bowdoin, deferral for consideration in March, and denial of admission. Each year a number of applicants who are deferred under Early Decision are accepted in March, when decisions on all regular admissions are released. Early Decision candidates may be denied admission if the Admissions Committee concludes that their credentials will not be competitive for further consideration in the Regular admission round.

7. Responsibility for understanding and complying with the rules for Early Decision rests with the candidate. Should an Early Decision candidate violate the provisions of the program, the College may rescind any offer of admission and financial aid.

Deferred Admission

Admitted students who wish to delay their matriculation to the College for one year must request a deferred enrollment from the dean of admissions by June 1, explaining the reasons for delaying matriculation. Bowdoin will hold a place in the next entering class for any student who is granted a deferment. The student, in return, must agree to withdraw all applications at other colleges or universities and may not apply for admission to other institutions during the deferral year. Financial aid candidates must reapply for aid during the year following the deferral. The $300 nonrefundable admissions deposit (or deposit waiver) is still due by the May 1 reply date.

Admission with Advanced Standing

Bowdoin recognizes College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) results and may grant advanced placement and credit toward graduation for superior performance in those programs. Applicants to Bowdoin are encouraged to have AP and IB test results sent to the Admissions Office.

Decisions on both placement and credit are made by the appropriate academic department in each subject area. Some departments offer placement examinations during the orientation period to assist them in making appropriate determinations. Every effort is made to place students in the most advanced courses for which they are qualified, regardless of whether they have taken AP or IB examinations before matriculation. Determinations of advanced placement and credit are made during the student’s first year at Bowdoin. Credit and placement policies for AP and IB examinations may be found on the Office of the Registrar website.

Some students have the opportunity to enroll in college-level coursework prior to high school graduation. Bowdoin College will consider granting credit for pre-college coursework, providing the following criteria have been met: the coursework must have been completed on a college campus, must have been completed in a class with matriculated college students, may not have been used to satisfy any high school graduation requirements, and must represent a standard of achievement comparable to what is expected at Bowdoin in a field of study characteristic of the liberal arts. Questions about applying for transfer credit can be directed to the Office of the Registrar or viewed on their website at bowdoin.edu/registrar.

First-year students who matriculated prior to fall 2013 may apply a maximum of eight course credits toward the degree from the Advanced Placement program, the International Baccalaureate program, or pre-college coursework. Students who matriculate beginning in the fall of 2013 may apply a maximum of four pre-matriculation credits toward the Bowdoin degree from approved exams or other approved college/university courses.

Home-Schooled Applicants

Home-schooled applicants and candidates applying from secondary schools that provide written evaluations rather than grades are required to submit either a graded paper or lab assignment between three and five pages in length that includes written feedback and grading metrics—or results from either the SAT or ACT, in addition to their other application materials. A personal interview is also strongly recommended.

International Students

The Admissions Committee welcomes the perspective that international students bring to the Bowdoin community. Admissions policies and procedures for international students are the same as for regular first-year applicants, with one exception: All international students who submit the College Scholarship Service Foreign Student Financial Aid Form or the Bowdoin International Financial Aid Form or Canadian students who submit the Canadian Financial Aid Form (both available on the Bowdoin student aid website) when they file the application for admission will be considered for Bowdoin funds to defray part of their college costs. 

Transfer Students

Each year, a limited number of students from other colleges and universities will be admitted to sophomore or junior standing at Bowdoin. The following information pertains to transfer candidates:

1. Students should file the Transfer Common Application and essay (a brief statement indicating the reasons for transferring to Bowdoin), and the Bowdoin Supplement (available from the Common Application) with the $65 application fee by March 1 for fall admission. Applicants must arrange to have submitted by the same deadlines transcripts of their college and secondary school records, a statement from a dean or advisor at their university or college, and at least two recommendations from current or recent professors. As soon as it becomes available, an updated transcript including spring semester grades should also be sent. Candidates whose applications are complete will normally be notified of Bowdoin’s decision in late April. (While space is rarely available for spring transfer admission, details about spring admission can be found at bowdoin.edu/admissions.)

2. Transfer candidates usually present academic records of “B+” work or better in a course of study that approximates the work that would have been done at Bowdoin had they entered as first-year students. Bowdoin accepts transfer credit for liberal arts courses in which a grade of C– or higher has been received. Transfer students should understand that although they may expect an estimate regarding class standing upon transferring, official placement is possible only after updated transcripts have arrived at the registrar’s office and have been appraised by the appropriate dean and academic departments. To qualify for the bachelor of arts degree, students must complete Distribution Requirements and Division Requirements, and these requirements normally must be satisfied by courses taken at Bowdoin.

3. Although two years of residence are required for a Bowdoin degree, students who have completed more than four semesters of college work are welcome to apply for admission, with this understanding. Students who have already received their bachelor’s degree are ineligible for first-year or transfer admission.

4. The financial aid funds available for transfer students may be limited by commitments the College has already made to enrolled students and incoming first-year students. US applicants for aid must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the College Scholarship Service’s Profile by March 1. International applicants for aid must file either the College Scholarship Service Foreign Student Financial Aid Form or the Bowdoin International Financial Aid Form (available on the Bowdoin student aid website) by March 1. Canadian applicants must submit the Canadian Financial Aid Form (available on the Bowdoin student aid website).

Special Students

Each semester, as space within the College and openings within courses permit, Bowdoin allows  a few special or visiting students who are not seeking a degree from Bowdoin to enroll. In general, this program is intended to serve the special educational needs of residents in the Brunswick area who have not yet completed a bachelor’s degree, as well as students who are pursuing a degree elsewhere and who, for truly exceptional reasons, wish to take a course at Bowdoin. Teachers wishing to upgrade their skills or Bowdoin graduates who need particular courses to qualify for graduate programs are also considered for this program. Special students are billed at a per course rate for up to two courses per term. No more than two credits may be taken each semester. No financial aid is available for special students. Interested applicants should submit the completed special student form and enclose the $65 application fee at least one month prior to the beginning of the semester. A personal interview is required. Inquiries should be addressed to the special student coordinator in the Admissions Office.

Summary of Application Deadlines

Application materials for admission include the completed Common Application, Coalition Application, or QuestBridge application and the Bowdoin Supplement. New applicants should submit these materials in accordance with the following deadlines:

Early Decision I — November 15

Early Decision II — January 5

Regular Admission — January 5

Transfer Applicants — March 1: Common Application and Bowdoin Supplement

All correspondence concerning first-year and transfer admission to the College should be addressed to the Office of Admissions, Bowdoin College, 5000 College Station, Brunswick, ME 04011; telephone: 207-725–3100; fax: 207-725-3101

Financial Aid

Bowdoin College's financial aid policy is designed to supplement family resources so that as many students as possible can attend the College. Scholarships, grants, and student employment are the principal sources of aid for Bowdoin students who need help in meeting educational expenses.

Due to Bowdoin’s belief that students who receive financial aid as grants should also be responsible for a portion of their expenses, student employment will generally be part of the financial aid notice. While loans may be available to supplement other resources, they will not be included in a typical financial aid notice. Annual submission of the required application forms guarantees consideration for all forms of financial aid available to Bowdoin students, including grants, jobs, and loans.

Need-Based Aid

Bowdoin's policy is to meet a student's full financial need, as calculated by the College using institutional need-based financial aid policies, for each year in which they qualify for aid. Financial need is the difference between Bowdoin's costs and the family's share. The College derives the family share from parental income and assets, household size, student assets, student earnings, and may include other resources such as gifts or non-College scholarships, available to supplement educational costs.

Need-Blind Admission

Bowdoin practices need-blind admission. Need-blind means that the ability to pay the College's tuition and fees is not part of the decision to admit a student. The College seeks highly motivated students who are interested in an undergraduate experience that will allow them to explore their academic interests and contribute to a vibrant residential community. Those students come from a wide variety of family backgrounds and economic circumstances, and Bowdoin believes in creating opportunity for all students regardless of family income.

Available resources limit our ability to be need-blind for all admission categories. For wait-listed and transfer students, Bowdoin may be "need aware" during the admission process, and a family's finances may be a factor in the final admission decision. If admitted, students from these groups will have their full need met based on standard policies assuming the student's financial aid file is complete by published deadlines.

Bowdoin's Financial Aid Resources

Over 70 percent of Bowdoin's scholarship budget comes from endowed funds given by alumni and friends of the College. In 2021–2022, from funds it administers, Bowdoin distributed $55.7 million in need-based scholarships, loans, and earnings. Grants from all sources exceeded $52 million in 2021–2022, with just under 50 percent of the student body receiving need-based assistance. In the Class of 2026, just under 50 percent of the entering class received need-based grants. The average Bowdoin College offer for incoming students was $62,350 (including Bowdoin grant, SEOG, Pell, and campus job).

Information on the availability of financial aid is accessible through the College's Student Aid Office. The Office of Development can answer any questions regarding endowed funds and the establishment of such funds.

Eligibility for Aid

To be eligible for grant aid at Bowdoin College, a student must:

1. Be a degree candidate who is enrolled or is accepted for enrollment on at least a half-time basis; and

2. Demonstrate financial need, as determined by the College through our institutional policies and procedures.

In addition, to qualify for any of the programs subsidized by the federal government, a student must be a citizen or an eligible non-citizen and apply for federal aid using the FAFSA.

Transfer students who did not apply for aid or were not eligible for aid at the time of admission are not considered for aid at any time during their enrollment.

A student is normally eligible for Bowdoin aid for a maximum of eight semesters of study. The College's Financial Aid Committee may offer a ninth semester of aid if circumstances warrant it and approved by the dean’s office in cooperation with the Financial Aid Committee. Upon completion of their degree requirements, students must graduate and cannot enroll for additional semesters, even if they have been enrolled for fewer than eight semesters and regardless of if they are recipients of federal, state, or institutional financial aid. In addition, students should not avoid registering for necessary courses to prolong their enrollment.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Student Aid is a requirement for all Bowdoin students who are recipients of federal, state, and institutional aid programs (including Title IV federal aid programs). Federal regulations require all schools participating in state and federal aid programs to monitor SAP. To be eligible for  federal, state, and institutional aid, Bowdoin students are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress toward their bachelor’s degree.

Bowdoin expects all students to maintain an acceptable level of academic progress, therefore this policy applies to all matriculated students. At the close of each semester, once grades post, all students’ records will be concurrently assessed for academic and student aid SAP. All students earning a cumulative or semester GPA of less than 2.000 will be reviewed, as well as those who have not met the quantitative measure outlined below. These standards have been developed in accordance with federal, state, and institutional regulations that govern financial aid programs.  

There are three distinct dimensions to the satisfactory academic progress standards: 

• completing the degree requirements within an established timeframe;
• maintaining the minimum required grade point average (GPA); and
• achieving a minimum rate of academic progression each year. 

These standards include an opportunity to appeal the denial of financial aid if the student has faced unusual circumstances which prevented the student from attaining the minimum standards.

View the full Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Student Aid on the Office of Student Aid website.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Academics

It is important to note that the College’s overall Satisfactory Academic Progress policy and the College’s financial aid SAP policy necessarily share regulations. While these policies share details, they are implemented separately from one another to maintain the integrity of each process. The Office of Student Aid, the Office of the Registrar, and the Office of the Dean of Students work jointly to ensure that student communication is coordinated through any warning and appeal processes. View the complete Satisfactory Academic Progress for Academics policies in the Academic Standards and Regulations section of the Catalogue and on the Office of the Registrar’s website.

Determination of Need

Bowdoin determines a student's financial aid eligibility from information submitted on the CSS Profile, FAFSA, and federal income tax returns and/or other requested documents (see Financial Aid Instructions).

Parents are responsible for the student's educational expenses, according to their financial ability to contribute. Divorce or separation of a student’s parents does not absolve either parent from this obligation.

Bowdoin’s need-based financial aid formula considers a student’s assets when evaluating need for institutional grant resources. The formula also takes into consideration the number of dependents in the family household, as well as the number of dependents enrolled on a full-time basis for a maximum of eight semesters in undergraduate degree programs.

Students are also expected to contribute to the cost of education by earning income during the summer and over the course of the academic year. This expected student contribution will vary depending upon current policies.

The sum of these resources when subtracted from Bowdoin's cost determines the student's need and eligibility for Bowdoin's financial aid funding.

Types of Aid Notices

First-Year Student Notices

Approximately 250 entering students receive financial aid each year to help meet their expenses. Recently these offers have ranged from $1,600 to over $80,000. Normally, financial aid recipients receive an aid decision with their letter of admission to the College. Financial aid offers become final after trustees approve the academic year costs and students complete all required documents.

Upperclass Notices

All continuing students applying for aid must submit all required application material by the published deadlines each year. Need-based scholarship amounts change each year as a function of changes in costs, family income, and net worth including home and business equity, family size, and number of children attending undergraduate college on a full-time basis. For a more complete description of Bowdoin's financial aid program, visit the Office of Student Aid website.

Bowdoin National Merit Scholars

Current Bowdoin National Merit Scholars with continued demonstrated financial need each year at Bowdoin receive a renewable $2,000 scholarship. Remaining financial need is met with grant and a modest level of employment. Recipients of these scholarships who do not demonstrate financial need at Bowdoin receive a $1,000 instead, renewable each year. Beginning in fall 2020, all new recipients receive $1,000 annually regardless of need level.

Student Loans

While loans are no longer part of a standard financial aid offer, most students may borrow to supplement other resources and defray the family’s share of educational costs. Federal Direct Loan monies are typically available for those eligible for Federal student aid programs.

Student Employment

Bowdoin’s standard financial aid decisions include an expectation that the student will work during the summer and academic year. The student may choose to work or not; this decision has no effect on the grant offer.

Beginning in the 2021–2022 academic year, for students whose combined calculated parental income is less than $75,000 (with typical assets), Bowdoin will eliminate the summer work expectation and replace the amount with equivalent grant support.

Bowdoin's student employment program offers a wide variety of opportunities to undergraduates, including direct employment at Bowdoin and at outside agencies represented on the campus or located in the community. Employment opportunities are open to all students who are interested and able to work. For students choosing to have the Student Employment Office assign them a campus job, the First-Year Job Placement Program (FYJPP) assigns students to positions prior to their arrival in the fall. There are over 2,500 campus jobs available in College departments and offices. The annual student payroll currently stands at more than $1,900,000.

To learn more about student employment, visit the Bowdoin Student Employment Office website.

International Students

Bowdoin offers need-based financial aid as part of its need-blind admission policy for international students. The student must file the CSS Profile application for aid consideration; the link is available on the Student Aid website. International students must also submit original documentation of income and taxes paid/withheld annually for their parents, and employer provided documentation of income and benefits. International student aid must be renewed annually and students who did not apply for aid at the time of admission may apply in future upperclass years.

Federal Financial Aid Programs Available at Bowdoin

The College participates in the Federal Work-Study Program, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants Program, the Federal Pell Grant Program, and the Federal Direct Loan Program previously mentioned. The College also works closely with states that may provide aid resources to students to help meet educational expenses.

Veterans Benefits

The degree programs of Bowdoin College meet the standards set by the Maine State Approving Agency for Veterans Education Programs for persons eligible for benefits (G.I. Bill®) from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Bowdoin participates in the Yellow Ribbon program. Students who request veterans' educational assistance are required to have all previous postsecondary experience evaluated for possible transfer credit in order to be eligible for benefits. For more information, contact the Student Aid Office.

Graduate Scholarships

Bowdoin is able to offer a number of scholarships for postgraduate study at other institutions. Grants of various amounts are available to Bowdoin graduates who continue their studies in the liberal arts and sciences and in certain professional schools. Bowdoin provides more than $400,000 in graduate scholarship assistance to over eighty students annually. Further information about these scholarships is available online or by contacting the Student Aid Office at sao@bowdoin.edu.

Aid Application and Deadlines

Consideration for financial aid is contingent upon receipt of an on-time application each year. All candidates for aid must submit the CSS Profile form by the date specified. US citizens and eligible non-citizens must also file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

Whether or not a student receives financial aid from Bowdoin, long-term, low-interest loans under the Federal Direct Loan program are available to US citizens and eligible non-citizens.

When students apply for financial aid at Bowdoin, they agree to provide a complete federal tax return information for both student and parent(s), plus any other documentation that may be required. Once the financial aid application is complete, the Student Aid Office will review a candidate’s request for assistance.

Application Deadlines

For financial aid consideration, applicants must submit their complete application for admission and all required aid application forms and documents by the appropriate deadlines. Additional information about the admission and financial aid process at Bowdoin is available on the admissions and student aid websites. Deadlines for a complete financial aid application are as follows:

Domestic Applicants:

Early Decision I:

November 15: CSS Profile, FAFSA, and most recent federal tax returns, including business tax returns (i.e., Schedule C, E, F, Form 1065, Form 1120, and Form 1120S), submitted directly to the College Board's IDOC service.

Early Decision II:

January 5: CSS Profile, FAFSA, and most recent federal tax returns, including business tax returns (i.e., Schedules C, E, F, Form 1065, Form 1120, and Form 1120S), submitted directly to the College Board's IDOC service.

Regular Admission:

February 1: CSS Profile, FAFSA, and most recent federal tax returns, including business tax returns (i.e. Schedules C, E, F, Form 1065, Form 1120, and Form 1120S), submitted through the College Board's IDOC service.

International Applicants:

International applicants must submit the CSS Profile Form and required income documentation by November 15 for Early Decision I applicants, January 5 for Early Decision II applicants, and February 1 for all other applicants.

Transfer Students:

March 1: CSS Profile, FAFSA, and most recent federal tax returns, submitted through the College Board's IDOC service.

Returning Students:

February 15: CSS Profile, FAFSA, and most recent federal tax returns, submitted through the College Scholarship Service’s IDOC service.

Further information about application procedures, eligibility, need calculation, and aid decisions—plus descriptions of individual federal, state, and College programs—is available by visiting the Student Aid website. Inquiries regarding Bowdoin's student aid programs may be addressed to Office of Student Aid, Bowdoin College, 5300 College Station, Brunswick, ME 04011-8444; telephone: 207-725-3144; fax: 207-725-3864.

 bowdoin.edu/studentaid