Bowdoin College, a highly selective member of the Bowdoin-Bates-Colby consortium of Maine liberal arts colleges, recently released admissions statistics for the Class of 2030. What do the data reveal about this new crop of Polar Bears? Well, admissions officers are likely popping the champagne and celebrating a victorious year, as this year’s admits were accepted at the lowest acceptance rate on record for Bowdoin. But let’s take a historical view of the data, looking through past admission cycles to contextualize just how much of a new record this year set.

Bowdoin College Admissions Statistics (Class of 2030 – Class of 2017)

Bowdoin College Class Year	Total Applications Received	Total Applications Accepted	Overall Acceptance Rate
Class of 2030	14,727	962	6.53%
Class of 2029	14,045	957	6.81%
Class of 2028	13,265	946	7.13%
Class of 2027	10,966	879	8.02%
Class of 2026	9,376	862	9.19%
Class of 2025	9,325	822	8.82%
Class of 2024	9,402	861	9.16%
Class of 2023	9,332	845	9.05%
Class of 2022	9,081	932	10.26%
Class of 2021	7,251	988	13.63%
Class of 2020	6,799	1,009	14.84%
Class of 2019	6,790	1,010	14.87%
Class of 2018	6,935	1,034	14.91%
Class of 2017	7,052	1,054	14.95%

Bowdoin Class of 2030 Statistics in Historical Perspective

A record 6.53% of applicants were admitted to Bowdoin this year, out of a pool of 14,727 applications (which also set a record for most applicants). To put these numbers into perspective, an average of 12,476 students have applied to Bowdoin per year over the last five cycles, while an average of 921, or 7.54%, have been admitted. Looking back over the last 14 years of admissions data, the trendline couldn’t be clearer: more and more students tend to apply to Bowdoin each year, and a slimmer and slimmer proportion of these students see their efforts rewarded with an acceptance letter each year. Considering that this past admission cycle marked a historic moment when many smaller liberal arts colleges struggled to generate interest, these numbers are all the more impressive.

Profile of Bowdoin Admits to the Class of 2030

Despite Bowdoin’s transparency about the acceptance rate for the Class of 2030, the same cannot be said for the demographics of this year’s admitted students. We’re still awaiting information on the racial demographics, academic profile, geographic origins, or socioeconomic breakdown for the recently admitted cohort. All we currently know about these students was published in an admissions report from The Bowdoin Orient, the college’s student-run newspaper:

“The admitted class includes 301 students who were offered admission during the two early decision rounds, 28 students admitted through the Questbridge National College Match program and 633 students offered admission via regular decision, including those deferred from the early decision rounds.”

Ivy Coach’s Bowdoin College Waitlist Assistance

If this year’s Bowdoin application cycle didn’t go as planned, and you were waitlisted to the Class of 2030, now is not the time to lose hope or throw in the towel. In fact, what you should be doing now is springing into action (after taking a moment to destress, do some yoga, re-center yourself, and take a few deep breaths). And that starts with Ivy Coach.

If you’re interested in optimizing your case for admission to Bowdoin off the waitlist, or if your child has their sights set on Bowdoin College for a future admissions cycle, fill out Ivy Coach’s complimentary consultation form. We’ll then be in touch to delineate our services, including our go-forward service for waitlisted candidates led by our team of former elite college admissions officers.