Lewiston, ME
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
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from Bates College's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 13% submitted SAT scores, 8% submitted ACT scores.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Early Decision I: Nov 15, 2026
- Early Decision II: Jan 10, 2027
- Regular Decision: Jan 10, 2027
Confirm on Bates College's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against Bates College's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow Bates College weighs your application
From Bates College's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Bates College weighs in your application
Paying it back
"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
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
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
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?
Per Bates College's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1325–1510 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for Bates College?
Per Bates College's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 31–34 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
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 deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 15, 2026; Early Decision II Jan 10, 2027; Regular Decision Jan 10, 2027, 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.
Related reading
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