About the Class of 2026
No set of statistics or averages can define a Bowdoin student—each of whom are entirely different from one another—but on the whole, the college admits young people who are thoughtful, driven, and curious.
Applicant Pool for the Class of 2026
The acceptance rate for the Class of 2026 was 9.1 percent. The applicant pool consisted of 9,446 candidates.
| TOTAL | |
| Applied | 9,446 |
| Admitted | 862 |
| Enrolled | 511 |
We're Test Optional
Bowdoin was the first test-optional college in the country—starting fifty years ago, in 1969. Forty-six percent of the Class of 2026 chose not to submit test scores. Learn more about our test-optional policy.
(Data on this page is current as of July 2022.)
The 511 members of the Class of 2026 are:
- 53% female, 45% male, 2% another identity (including non-binary)
- 69% from outside of New England
- 42% students of color
- 11% international background
- 9% Maine residents
- 17% first generation to earn a four-year degree
- 14 states with ten or more students (CA, CT, FL, IL, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, TX, VA, WA)
VIDEO
The Class of 2025 Arrives, Unpacks, and Prepares for Adventures Ahead