Bowdoin College

Brunswick, ME · founded 1794 · 1,800 students · liberal arts college · NESCAC

Known for: Renowned for its strong emphasis on the liberal arts and sciences, with a commitment to the common good and a need-blind admission policy. It is also famous for its dining hall food, often ranked among the best in the nation.

Rankings

U.S. News liberal arts: #6
Forbes: #16

Top programmes

Government and Legal Studies
English
Economics
Environmental Studies
Biology
History

Notable alumni

Nathaniel Hawthorne — Renowned American novelist and short story writer
Harriet Beecher Stowe — Author of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'
Joan Benoit Samuelson — Olympic gold medalist in marathon
William Cohen — Former U.S. Secretary of Defense
John R. Huizenga — Nuclear physicist and co-discoverer of elements
George Mitchell — Former U.S. Senator and peace negotiator
Leonard Bernstein — Famed composer and conductor (attended briefly)
Robert Peary — Arctic explorer who claimed to reach the North Pole

Traditions

Ivies Weekend
Polar Bear Dip
Bowdoin Organic Garden harvest
First-Year Orientation trips

If Bowdoin College were…

As a food: Maine lobster roll (Red's Eats style) — Unpretentious excellence from the coast, no filler, just pure quality in a simple package. Bowdoin is that perfect combination of elite substance without the show-off garnish—and yes, the location matters.
As an athlete: Mikaela Shiffrin — Alpine skiing champion, outdoorsy, technically brilliant, humble despite dominance. Bowdoin students are quietly excellent, more comfortable on a mountain than a red carpet, and win without needing to brag.
As a person alive today: Ken Chenault — Former Amex CEO, Bowdoin '73, epitomizes the school's collaborative leadership style—highly accomplished, principled, and more interested in substance than flash. Also: actual alumnus who embodies the ethos.
As a historical figure: Joshua Chamberlain — Bowdoin professor turned Civil War hero at Little Round Top, Medal of Honor recipient, later Maine governor and college president. Intellectual grit, moral courage, and New England backbone personified.
As a movie or TV show: The West Wing — Smart people earnestly debating policy while walking quickly through hallways, idealistic without being naive, collaborative excellence, and that specific brand of principled liberalism. Everyone did the reading and care
As a US president: Franklin Pierce — Bowdoin alumnus (class of 1824), New England roots, and while not the most successful president, represents that 19th-century Northern intellectual tradition. Also, Hawthorne wrote his campaign biography—very Bowdoin.
As a city: Portland, Maine — Sophisticated but unpretentious, coastal, environmentally conscious, great food scene, outdoorsy culture, and that perfect balance of intellectual life and natural beauty. Also literally 30 minutes away.
As an element: Carbon — Foundation of organic life, forms diamonds under pressure, essential and versatile without being flashy. Bowdoin is fundamental excellence—strong bonds, adaptable structures, and quietly holding everything together.
As a car: 1995 Subaru Outback — Rugged enough for Maine winters and Acadia hikes, intellectual enough to sport NPR bumper stickers, collaborative enough to carpool to the farmers market. The quintessential New England liberal arts experience on four wh

Campus life

Bowdoin offers a close-knit, intellectually vibrant community with a strong sense of tradition and engagement. Social life revolves around campus events, student organizations, and outdoor activities, with a focus on inclusivity and collaboration rather than Greek life.