Organizer Information
Bowdoin College is a private liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine, offering Bachelor of Arts degrees across the sciences, humanities, social sciences, and arts. Relevant arts-related study is offered through areas including Art History, Visual Arts, and Cinema Studies.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Bowdoin College
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate
- Degrees Offered: BA
- Academic Fields: Art History, Visual Arts, Cinema Studies, Film
- Relevant Programs: Art History Major; Visual Arts Major; Art History and Visual Arts Interdisciplinary Major; Art History and Archaeology Interdisciplinary Major; Cinema Studies Minor
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: August 1 onward
- Application Deadline: November 15 (ED1); January 5 (ED2/RD); March 1 (Transfer)
- Start of Studies: Fall
- Application Fee: $70
- Tuition: $74,268 for 2026–2027
- Funding: Need-based scholarships and grants; full demonstrated financial need met for admitted students, including international students.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Bowdoin offers undergraduate majors in Art History and Visual Arts, as well as an interdisciplinary study combining Art History and Visual Arts. The Art History department also participates in an Art History and Archaeology interdisciplinary major.
- Visual Arts study includes drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, video, advanced studio practice, and visual arts electives.
- Cinema Studies introduces students to film techniques, history, and literature, but Bowdoin's current academic listings identify Cinema Studies as a minor, rather than a standalone major or degree.
General Eligibility
- Bowdoin's undergraduate admissions are intended for students applying directly from secondary education and for eligible transfer applicants. Applicants who have already obtained a bachelor's degree are ineligible for admission.
- For first-year admission, Bowdoin does not prescribe a specific high-school curriculum or minimum GPA. The College evaluates applicants holistically, with particular attention to academic achievement, course rigor, recommendations, writing, academic potential, and school/community involvement.
- Educational Background: First-year applicants must submit an official secondary-school transcript or equivalent. Students who have completed a bachelor's degree cannot apply as undergraduate candidates. International applicants following A-level or IB curricula are expected to submit predicted grades when still completing secondary school, or final results after graduation.
- No portfolio is stated as a general admission requirement. Bowdoin offers an optional Arts Supplement for first-year applicants with notable visual or performing arts talent.
Language Requirements
International students may optionally submit English proficiency results from TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, or Cambridge English Assessment. Bowdoin does not set a minimum qualifying English-proficiency score. Incoming students are nevertheless expected to be highly proficient in spoken and written English at college level, and Bowdoin does not offer English-as-a-Second-Language courses.
Application Fee
| Applicant Type | Application Fee | Waivers |
|---|---|---|
| First-year / Transfer | $70 | Automatically waived for applicants applying for financial aid, first-generation-to-college students, veterans, Explore Bowdoin applicants, and applicants for whom the fee presents significant financial hardship. |
The $70 fee is non-refundable when paid.
Tuition
| Academic Year | Tuition | Mandatory Fees | Housing | Food |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026–2027 | $74,268 | $700 | $10,106 | $10,326 |
Bowdoin reports direct costs of $95,400 for 2026–2027. Books, course materials, supplies and equipment are listed at $840, miscellaneous personal expenses at $1,660, and transportation varies.
Funding & Financial Support
- Bowdoin states that it is need-blind for applicants, including international applicants, and meets 100% of each admitted student's calculated financial need without loans in its aid packages. Need-based Bowdoin scholarships do not need to be repaid.
- For international applicants, financial-aid application materials are generally submitted after admission rather than with the initial application.
University Services & Academic Support
- Art-related students have access to the Visual Arts Center, which includes studios, classrooms, exhibition space, the Pierce Art Library, and Kresge Auditorium. Art History students can work directly with the Bowdoin College Museum of Art collection, including exhibitions and student-curated projects. Internships are also available through the museum and other museums and galleries.
- Every Bowdoin student receives a MacBook Pro, iPad mini, and Apple Pencil through the College's Digital Excellence Commitment, with the cost covered by Bowdoin.
Application Requirements
First-year applicants must submit:
- Common Application, Coalition on Scoir application, or QuestBridge application
- Bowdoin Supplement
- Three recommendations: counselor, teacher, and other recommender
- Secondary School Report
- Official secondary-school transcript
- Final secondary-school transcript and graduation date before enrollment
For international applicants, transcripts should be translated into English. Required national examination results must also be submitted where applicable.
English-proficiency testing is optional for international applicants. The Arts Supplement is optional. Interviews are offered on a limited basis and are not presented as a universal admission requirement.
How to Apply?
- Application Portal
Deadline & Timeline
- Early Decision 1 Deadline: 15 November 2026
- Early Decision 1 Notification: Mid-December 2026
- Early Decision 2 Deadline: 5 January 2027
- Early Decision 2 Notification: Early February 2027
- Regular Decision Deadline: 5 January 2027
- Financial Aid Deadline — Regular Decision: 1 February 2027
- Regular Decision Notification: Mid-March 2027
- Transfer Application Deadline: 1 March 2027
- Transfer Financial Aid Deadline: 1 March 2027
- Transfer Notification: April 2026
- Arts Supplement Deadline — ED1: 15 November 2026
- Arts Supplement Deadline — ED2: 13 January 2027
- Arts Supplement Deadline — Regular Decision: 13 January 2027
Dates are based on Bowdoin's published admissions calendar for the current admissions cycle.
Location
Bowdoin College — Brunswick, Maine, United States
Additional Details
Bowdoin is an undergraduate liberal arts college rather than a graduate art school. The relevant arts offerings therefore lead to undergraduate study, while Cinema Studies is currently offered as a minor rather than a standalone film degree.
The optional Arts Supplement is separate from the general admission requirements and is intended for first-year applicants with notable visual or performing arts talent.