Bates College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Lewiston, Maine. It enrolls 1,760 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic Calendar4-1-4 Plan
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
72/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes94
Value36
Affordability10
Selectivity95
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 13.3%, Bates College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
13.3%
Very Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1420 – 1530
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
31 – 34
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Bates College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
0.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Bates College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $29,351 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$29,351
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
12%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
14%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$66,590
Room & Board (on-campus)
$18,780
Books & Supplies
$900
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,250
Total Cost of Attendance
$83,532
Application fee: $60 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$2,397
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,958
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,336
$75,001 – $110,000
$19,468
Over $110,000
$45,886
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,35010%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$14,275Medianpercentile
$21,35475%percentile
$28,95090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,980
↑ $705
No Pell $12,000
↓ $2,275
Female students $11,650
↓ $2,625
Male students $13,250
↓ $1,025
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,495, less than completers ($14,275), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
93% of full-time students who enrolled at Bates College graduate within six years, and 93% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
93%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
93%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Bates College earn a median of $69,498 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$69,498
Earning > $25K
96%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$63,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$83,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $20,400, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$2.4 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
Bates College is home to 1,760 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,760
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
15%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 60.2%1,060
International 9.8%172
Hispanic 9.7%171
Other 8.7%153
Asian 6.6%116
Black 4.5%79
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Bates College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityLewiston, Maine
Housing
Strongly residential1,737 beds for 1,760 students
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Bates College offers
a varied set of programs:
29 distinct programs across
13 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bates College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$672M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$106,351
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
177 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
50
28%
$145,775
Associate Professors
42
24%
$109,099
Assistant Professors
60
34%
$82,587
Instructors
3
2%
$67,760
Lecturers
22
12%
$81,583
Pros & Cons of Bates College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Bates College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Highly selective, strong peer cohort
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Highly competitive admissions, many strong applicants are rejected
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Bates College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students seeking a highly selective peer group.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bates College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Bates College.
Is Bates College hard to get into?
Bates College is highly selective. Its acceptance rate is 13.3%, so admitted students generally have strong grades, competitive test scores, and a well-rounded application.
What is the acceptance rate at Bates College?
Bates College has an acceptance rate of 13.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Bates College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bates College scored between 1420 and 1530 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Bates College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bates College scored between 31 and 34 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Bates College cost?
The average net price after aid at Bates College is $29,351 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Bates College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $69,498 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $29,351 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Bates College known for?
Bates College is best known for its programs in Economics, Political Science, Experimental Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Bates College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Bates College are $69,498, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Bates College accredited?
Yes. Bates College is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Bates College?
Bates College enrolls 1,760 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Bates College?
Bates College graduates 93% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Bates College a public or private college?
Bates College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Bates College located?
Bates College is located in Lewiston, Maine.
What programs does Bates College offer?
Bates College offers 29 distinct programs. The most popular include Economics, Political Science, Experimental Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Bates College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bates College is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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