Matriculating students this year represent forty-four states and the District of Columbia, as well as fifty countries. Seven students joined the class after a gap year, and twenty-five students were admitted to Bowdoin through the QuestBridge Match process.
The College has also welcomed twelve transfer students, six of whom are joining Bowdoin after starting their college careers at community colleges.
“The members of the Class of 2029 and our transfer students are an impressive and caring group of young people,” said Claudia Marroquin ’06, senior vice president and dean of admissions and student aid.
“Our incoming students are accomplished beyond their academics—they are journalists, podcasters, outdoor enthusiasts, students devoted to the communities they formed in high school and the causes that move them. They shared willingly and thoughtfully of themselves throughout the application process and are ready to make meaningful contributions in and out of the classroom in college. The admissions team has enjoyed getting to know these young people, and I am excited for the Bowdoin community to get to know them too.
“This year, the admissions office dug in and did what we do best: We got to know our applicants and made them feel our personal commitment in their interactions with us. We traveled the country and the world, we hosted various virtual programs, and we took the time to understand our applicants. Seeing students arrive on campus is truly a highlight of this work—it’s now time for the students to be open to new possibilities, learn from each other, and make Bowdoin their own.”
Bowdoin’s student aid program supports all enrolled students and their families by meeting 100 percent of each student’s calculated financial need with need-based scholarships and grants—and all aid packages are loan-free.
All enrolled students at Bowdoin receive a MacBook Pro, iPad mini, and Apple Pencil as part of the College’s groundbreaking Digital Excellence Commitment (DExC), an initiative in place at Bowdoin since the 2023–2024 academic year.
“Bowdoin continues to level the playing field for students,” Marroquin said. “We recognize that talent and excellence exist across socioeconomic levels, lived experiences, and across the world. The College’s financial aid support and DExC programs are two ways in which we ensure that every student can fully participate in the Bowdoin experience. The newest members of the Bowdoin community are deserving of their place at Bowdoin—they belong at Bowdoin. I look forward to seeing their successes and outcomes in the years to come.”
Read about arrival day, orientation trips, and students' first days as members of the Class of 2029.
Gender Identity: 50 percent women; 48 percent men; 2 percent another identity
Students with neither parent holding a four-year college degree: 18 percent
Students of color: 35 percent
International background: 10 percent
Countries represented by citizenship: 50
States represented: 44 and the District of Columbia
Students from Maine: 10 percent
Most represented states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington (all with ten or more students)
Percent receiving student aid: 52
Pell grant recipients: 21 percent
Aided students with $0 family contribution: 24 percent
Average student aid award: $72,000
Students with a parent or grandparent who attended Bowdoin: 6 percent
Public and/or charter schools: 52 percent
Independent schools: 33 percent
Religious and/or parochial schools: 15 percent
Number of unique high schools represented: 415
Students who chose not to submit testing: 50 percent
