Types of Aid

Bowdoin meets every admitted student's full demonstrated need with an on-campus work expectation and scholarships, and there are several other resources families may use to help pay their share of college costs.

Bowdoin uses information from the CSS Profile to determine each student's eligibility for financial aid. We analyze each family's income, assets, and household information to determine an appropriate family contribution. We then subtract the family contribution from the cost of attendance and meet the difference with a $2,200 on-campus work expectation and scholarships. Bowdoin does not use loans to meet a family's demonstrated need, but they are available for families who choose to borrow as part of their plan to pay their share of the cost.

All financial aid at Bowdoin is distributed based on need. Bowdoin does not provide merit aid.

Bowdoin College is committed to using the principles and standards of the College Cost Transparency Initiative in its student financial aid offer.

There are three primary types of financial aid, and it's important to know what they mean:

Scholarships and Grants: These funds are a gift and do not need to be repaid.
Work-Study or Campus Job: This is money that a student may choose to earn through on-campus employment.
Loans: These funds are borrowed and must be repaid at a later date.

We also recommend reviewing our glossary, which defines and explains additional financial aid terminology.