Bowdoin College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Bowdoin College charges a net price of $14,398/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $57,592. Graduates earn a median $82,735 ten years after entry, $34,375/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 1.7 years — a 20-year net return of $629,908, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Bowdoin College's 1.7-year payback ranks #49 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 96% of them, and #1 of 27 in Maine.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $14,398/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $57,592 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $82,735 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $34,375/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $18,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 1.7 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $629,908 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Bowdoin College's own numbers. Net price $14,398 × 4 years = $57,592 total. Median earnings $82,735 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $34,375 a year of premium. $57,592 ÷ $34,375 = 1.7 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $629,908. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Bowdoin College students graduate with?
A median $18,500 in federal loans among completers, or 22% of the $82,735 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Bowdoin College students graduate?
95% finish their degree. Spread the $57,592 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $60,623 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Bowdoin College expensive compared with other Maine colleges?
Its $14,398 net price runs $2,782 below the $17,180 median across the 27 Maine colleges we profile, and $11,128 less across the full degree.