Bowdoin College
Brunswick, Maine · Private Nonprofit · 7.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 92/100 · Exceptional Value
Bowdoin College admits 7.1% of applicants -- nearly identical selectivity to Pomona -- and lands an ROI score of 92. The 1,873-student school in Brunswick, Maine is best known for economics, mathematics, and natural sciences. Median earnings reach $57,100 six years out and $82,735 at ten years. Net price averages $14,398, and the payback period is 4.1 years on median debt of $18,500. The 95.3% completion rate is one of the highest among all four-year colleges in the country. Bowdoin's small size means students interact directly with faculty rather than graduate teaching assistants. The school has no Greek life, which concentrates social life around its residential house system and clubs. Maine location is remote, but Bowdoin's alumni network is disproportionately influential in finance, law, politics, and journalism relative to its enrollment. The 0.324 debt-to-earnings ratio reflects manageable borrowing across the student body.
The median graduate earns $82,735 ten years after entry - well above the national median of roughly $55,000 for 4-year college graduates.
Bowdoin College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $67,832/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $67,832/yr |
| Average net price | $14,398/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $57,592 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $82,735 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $57,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $196 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 95.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,873 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Bowdoin College is $67,832/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $14,398/year, or roughly $57,592 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $3,145/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $35,196/year. The school provides substantial aid to low-income students, making it significantly more affordable than the sticker price suggests.
The median graduate leaves with $18,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $196 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $82,735 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.32 - well within manageable territory.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $3,145 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $2,800 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,007 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,801 |
| $110,001+ | $35,196 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $3,145 per year at Bowdoin -- roughly $12,600 total for four years. Bowdoin meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans for most students. For a low-income family, this is one of the most affordable paths to a highly selective liberal arts education in the country.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48k bracket pays $2,800 per year -- lower than the lowest-income bracket, which is unusual and worth noting. The 48-75k bracket pays $9,007 and the 75-110k bracket pays $13,801. The slope is steep from mid-range upward. A family at $90,000 income pays roughly $14K per year, which is still far below sticker price of $67,832.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $35,196 per year -- about 52% of sticker. Given median 10-year earnings of $82,735 and a 4.1-year payback period, paying $35K/year is reasonable for families who can sustain it. The debate for high-income families centers on whether Bowdoin's outcomes justify a similar price point to larger research universities with more credential differentiation.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at Bowdoin College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $121,983 | B+ |
| International Relations | $89,253 | B+ |
| Mathematics | $90,213 | - |
| Area Studies | $75,966 | C+ |
| English Language and Literature | $49,421 | - |
| Computer Science | $137,611 | - |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $43,373 | C+ |
| Sociology | $47,749 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Economics
Economics is Bowdoin's largest program at 85 graduates and shows $75,867 one-year median earnings and $121,983 at four years, with a 0.257 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ grade. This is consistent with liberal arts economics placing students in financial services, consulting, and policy roles. At four years out, the $122K median indicates significant career progression -- likely into senior analyst, associate, or manager roles. Bowdoin's Maine alumni in Boston finance provide strong networking leverage. The 0.257 debt ratio is acceptable though not low; it reflects moderate borrowing against solid eventual earnings.
International Relations
International Relations (77 graduates) shows $60,626 one-year median earnings and $89,253 at four years, with a 0.324 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ grade. The four-year median of $89K is notably strong for an international relations credential -- Bowdoin IR graduates likely move into government service, consulting, international NGOs, and law. The program benefits from Maine's maritime and Canadian border context. Starting salaries at $60K are workable but borrowers with high debt loads may feel pressure; the 0.324 ratio is on the acceptable edge of manageable.
Mathematics
Mathematics (41 graduates) delivers $90,213 one-year median earnings -- the highest one-year figure for any Bowdoin program. Four-year data is not available. A $90K starting salary for mathematics graduates from a selective liberal arts college suggests placement in quantitative finance, data science, or consulting rather than academia. Bowdoin's strong alumni network in finance likely funnels math majors into trading desks, hedge funds, and technology companies. No debt data is available for this program; school-wide debt averages $18,500.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | N/A | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | N/A | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 89.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 91.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 7.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 740-780 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 730-770 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 33-35 |
| Enrollment | 1,873 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 17.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $14,216 |
A 7.1% admission rate puts Bowdoin in the same selectivity tier as Pomona and just below Williams and Swarthmore. SAT Math 740-780, SAT Reading 730-770, ACT 33-35 define the admitted range. Bowdoin is test-optional, which affects how these bands should be interpreted -- the cited ranges include only students who submitted scores.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among Bowdoin's peer set, Swarthmore (ROI 92, net price $23,149, 6yr earnings $44,500, 92.3% completion) and Amherst (ROI 90, net price $23,367, 6yr earnings $61,600, 93.9% completion) provide benchmarks. Bowdoin's $14,398 net price is the lowest of the three, and its 95.3% completion rate is the highest. Amherst's 6-year earnings of $61,600 trail Bowdoin's $57,100 only modestly. Bates College (ROI 82, Strong Value) is the same-state peer: net price $29,351, 6yr earnings $46,000, 7.5-year payback -- a step down across all metrics. Bowdoin holds a meaningful advantage over Bates on both ROI score and raw outcomes.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowdoin College (this school) | 92 | $14,398 | $82,735 |
| Swarthmore College | 92 | $23,149 | $80,257 |
| Pomona College | 90 | $19,285 | $77,779 |
| Amherst College | 90 | $23,367 | $77,644 |
| Bates College | 82 | $29,351 | $69,498 |
| College of the Atlantic | 25 | $25,184 | $40,264 |
Who Thrives Here
Admitted students cluster at ACT 33-35 and SAT 730-780 (Reading) and 740-780 (Math). About 17% receive Pell grants -- lower than some peers, reflecting a student body weighted toward upper-middle and high income. Students who do best here are intellectually curious and comfortable in a semi-remote campus environment. Bowdoin has no engineering programs. Students seeking technical degree credentials should look elsewhere; students who want liberal arts depth with strong graduate school placement are well served.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
Bowdoin College is one of the strongest financial investments in higher education. With a total 4-year net cost of $57,592 and median graduate earnings of $82,735 ten years out, the math works decisively in graduates' favor. The estimated payback period of 4.1 years is well below average.
The data highlights several strengths: strong earnings premium over high school graduates, a 95.3% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $18,500 is very manageable against $82,735 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.