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Colleges / Bowdoin College

Bowdoin College

Brunswick, ME 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate9%
Acceptance Rate9%

Bowdoin College Tuition Information

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Bowdoin College was $60,952 a year.

Tuition increased 5.5% in 2022–from $57,776 the previous year. On average, college tuition rises about 3% year.

Remember, the displayed price of tuition doesn't always give you all the info you need to know how much you will actually have to pay for college. Many students pay way less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. Additionally, student loans can make theprice of collegemore manageable until you've finishing school and found a job.

Does Bowdoin College Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Bowdoin College is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for residents of Maine as it does for residents from other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state residency can cut the cost of college tuition. Don't forget to confirm your state's guidelines for how to qualify for in-state residency. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be additional requirements as well, depending on the state you and your parents currently reside in.

Explore other Maine colleges

Bowdoin College International Student Tuition

Tuition at Bowdoin College is the same for each student.

International students are not eligible for federal financial aid, but may qualify for private or school-specific aid and scholarships. International students with need may be eligible for the following types of financial support at Bowdoin College:

•On-campus jobs •Loans from outsideBowdoin College •Bowdoin College-specific scholarships


Bowdoin College Living Expenses, Fees, and More


In addition to the cost of tuition, there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Bowdoin College.

House and Food Costs at Bowdoin College

Housing and campus dining at Bowdoin College costs $16,772 a year. This includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a meal plan that enables you to eat all or some of your meals the Bowdoin College's on-campus cafeterias and dining halls.

Board costs can depend on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

How Much Do Books Cost at Bowdoin College?

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The actual cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Yearly Fees

Most schools also have fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

There may be other costs associated with participating in special activities, like Greek Life, or participating in sports or other extracurriculars. Many schools have ways so that those who may struggle to participate because of cost can find ways to lower or eliminate these costs.

The Cost of Transportation at Bowdoin College

The cost of transportation in college can really vary. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus small enough that you can easily walk from class-to-class?? Do you own a car, or will you need to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these factors can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are not allowed to park a car on campus.

The location of a college or university can also have a big effect on your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, getting around in a city may be pricey, but cities may offer more buses, trains or affordable flights to actually get to school. Bowdoin Collegeis located in a small town setting in Maine, not far from Portland and Maine.

Other Costs

When you're planning for college, don’t forget to consider personal expenses, like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.


Financial Breakdown for Bowdoin College


Now, let’s look at the breakdown of all expenses, to get a better estimate of the actual cost of attending Bowdoin College.

How Much Does Bowdoin College Cost?

What will the cost of attending Bowdoin College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition $60,952
Room and Board $16,772
Other expenses $1,250

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus $80,390
Off-Campus $62,368

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.


Bowdoin College Financial Aid


In 2022, 942 of the 1,951 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Bowdoin College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $58,320 a year. Around 26% of Bowdoin College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Bowdoin College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $21,417 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans $15,249
Bowdoin College-Specific Loans $19,968
Private Loans $41,143
Most Common Loans for Bowdoin College Students
Federal Loans 24%
Private loans 4%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Bowdoin College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Bowdoin College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2022, Bowdoin College awarded 942 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $51.8 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $1.82 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Bowdoin College Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Bowdoin College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Bowdoin College was $58,320 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Bowdoin College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus $22,070
Off-Campus $4,048

What will attending Bowdoin College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families understand the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Bowdoin College's net cost calculator on their website.

Bowdoin College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Students cannot pay tuition in installments. Contact the financial aid office to verify this and discuss options.

Bowdoin College Tuition Waivers

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to reduce the total cost of attendance. Some schools offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.


Learn More About Bowdoin College


Choose one of the options below to find out more about about Bowdoin College:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Join the conversation about about Bowdoin College in the College Confidential forums

Bowdoin College Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$75,060

In State

$75,060

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$57,776
$57,776
Fees
$546
$546
Housing
$15,898
$15,898
Books
$840
$840

Bowdoin College Financial Aid

Students Who Receive Need-Based Aid

48%

Average Financial Aid Package

$56,905

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

1,951

Campus Setting

Small Town

Acceptance Rate

9%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$58,322

Out-of-State

$58,322

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 5
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