College Intel
← Back to colleges

Bates College

Private

Lewiston, ME

Visit website ↗

Bates College, in Lewiston, ME, is a private small school, enrolling around 1,760 students. It's highly selective, admitting about 13% of applicants. Among reported majors, Economics shows the strongest outcomes -- $110,880/year in median earnings four years after graduation. Students are required to live on campus.

Admissions

Admit rate13%
SAT range1420–1530
ACT range31–34
Undergrads1,760
Yield (admits who enroll)46%
Next deadlineNov 15, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$83,532
4-year grad rate90%
Median earnings, 10yr out$69,498

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against Bates College's numbers?

Check your chances here

How Bates College weighs your application

From Bates College's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankVery important
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresConsidered
Application essayVery important
RecommendationsVery important
Nonacademic factors
InterviewConsidered
Extracurricular activitiesVery important
Talent/abilityVery important
Character/personal qualitiesVery important
First generationImportant
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceImportant
State residencyImportant
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Important
BUILD YOUR FIT SCORESee how Bates College actually weighs your profile, free, no account needed
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Bates College weighs in your application

Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans14%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out88%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature, General$62,082/yr
Psychology
Psychology, General$65,926/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$110,880/yr
Political Science and Government$80,714/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusYes
Dormitory capacity1,731
Typical room chargeNot reported
Typical board chargeNot reported

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPAConsidered, not required
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Bates College look for in applicants?

Per Bates College's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates extracurricular activities, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, rigor of secondary school record, class rank, academic GPA, application essay, recommendations as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Bates College's acceptance rate?

Bates College in Lewiston, ME admits approximately 13% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Bates College?

Admitted students at Bates College typically score between 1420–1530 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Bates College?

Admitted students at Bates College typically score between 31–34 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Bates College cost?

Bates College's total cost of attendance is reported at $83,532 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Bates College?

Bates College's earliest deadline is Nov 15, 2026 (ED1), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Bates College require students to live on campus?

Yes -- Bates College requires students to live in on-campus housing.

Comparing Bates College against another school?

Open the comparison view