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Bowdoin College
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Bowdoin College - Diversity - Diversity - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.46

Diversity

B
Where does this grade come from?View all Diversity rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Diversity Grades:

Quick Stats

African American 6%
Asian American 12%
Hispanic 9%
International 3%
Native American 1%
White 68%
Unknown 2%
Historically Black College/University? No
Tribal College? No
Out-of-State Students 89%
Common States of Residence
  • California
  • Connecticut
  • Massachusetts
  • New Jersey
  • New York
Student Age Breakdown Under 18: 2%
18-19: 51%
20-21: 42%
22-24: 5%
25+: 0%
Female Faculty 50%
Male Faculty 50%
Faculty Diversity African American: 5%
Asian American: 7%
Hispanic: 5%
International: 4%
Native American: 1%
White: 80%
Unknown: 0%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Diversity at Bowdoin is relative, and depending on a student's background, Bowdoin may seem diverse or not. Minority students make up about 30 percent of Bowdoin's student body; however, racial diversity isn't the only factor contributing to a student body of unique individuals. Although many Bowdoin students come from the wealthiest 5 percent of families in the United States, students describe the College as being an economically diverse place. Financial aid allows students from various financial backgrounds to attend Bowdoin. And, the international student population has been steadily growing in response to Bowdoin's initiative to increase diversity.

Bowdoin doesn't show much political diversity, and most students identify themselves as liberal. Interestingly, though, many view the rest of the student body as more liberal than themselves. There is also a small presence of conservative views. Religion does not play a large role on campus—although there is a broad range of religious views, differences in religion do not seem to build walls between students. The most diverse aspect of Bowdoin is probably sexual orientation. Students who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender are accepted. In general, most Bowdoin students are accepting of all minorities on campus.

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Bowdoin Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Diversity at Bowdoin College

2wilight

Liberal Arts and Humanities '14

3.8
B+

Not Sure If Experience Weekend, or Actually Diverse...

So Bowdoin has really been pushing for more diversity on campus of late. Let's be real, the college is in Maine, which is probably the whitest state in America (and if not, it's probably a big contender). So don't come here expecting Stanford level diversity, and if you're of color, perhaps prepare yourself for a whole new world of the way you perceive yourself and the way the surroundings perceive you, but respect that especially given the area, Bowdoin manages to draw a pretty diverse crowd.

Feb 18, 2012

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Diversity at Bowdoin College

Netminder35

Economics '14

4.6
A

Complete Mixture of Ethnicity, Religion and Sexual Orientation

BowdoinCollege is a mixture of all nationalities, races, and religions. There are many multi-cultural clubs and activities available to all students. Bowdoin is extremely liberal and is a haven for many different groups. The campus is relaxed and yet protective of its students.

Nov 08, 2011

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Diversity at Bowdoin College

eelong

History '14

3.1
B-

Diverstiy

There are way too many white people! However, in terms of all areas aside from racial/ethnic diversity, Bowdoin is a very diverse campus.

Jul 24, 2011

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Page 1 of 8
User rating for Bowdoin College - Diversity is 4.6 out of 5 based on 22 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

How diverse is the student body in the following areas?

How diverse is your personal circle of friends in the following areas?

How accepting is the campus community as a whole toward someone who falls into the minority (ethnic, sexual, or religious)?

How would you best describe your personal political beliefs?

How would you best describe the political beliefs of campus as a whole?

Facts

Gay Pride

Bowdoin Gay/Straight Alliance and the Resource Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity are organizations that provide support for students who wish to discuss relationships of all types. These groups also help inform the Bowdoin community about gay, lesbian, and bisexual issues. Bowdoin also offers a Gay and Lesbian Studies Program.

Political Activity

There is the Bowdoin College Democrats and the Bowdoin College Republicans, but the Democrats have a larger presence.

Economic Status

There is generally not a noticeable divide between affluent and less-fortunate students, but some differences can be noted in dress and speech if closely watched.

Most Common Religions

At Bowdoin, there are students who identify as Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, atheist, and so on, but there are no huge rifts between people of differing religious views. The Bowdoin Christian Fellowship, the Catholic Students Union, and Hillel are all active religious student organizations.

Minority Clubs on Campus

Bowdoin has an associate dean of multicultural student programs, and there are many minority clubs on campus. They include Africa Alliance, African-American Society, Asian Student Association, Hillel, International Club, Korean American Students Association, Latin American Student Organization, Middle Eastern Student Alliance, and Native American Students Association.

Did You Know?
  • It's commonly said that if you ask a Bowdoin student where he or she is from, they'll answer, "Twenty minutes outside Boston." Not all students are from Massachusetts, but about a quarter of the student body is, while approximately 10 percent of the population hails from Maine.
  • An interesting aspect of the town of Brunswick is its diversity in options for religious practice. While 57 percent of the town population identifies with the Catholic Church, 9 percent with the United Church of Christ, and 5 percent with the United Methodist Church, the remaining 29 percent identify with other (or no) religious services. The result is a wide variety of options for students who might want to join the community for religious activities. Options include Unitarian Universalists and a Buddhist Shambhala center, as well as synagogues and mosques in the surrounding towns.

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Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Danica Loucks
Hometown
Hamilton, Mont.
Major
Probably Sociology and German

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
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