Bates College

Bates College Overview

Bates College is a private, nonprofit school in a small town setting in Lewiston, Maine. Bates College was founded in 1855 and the school currently enrolls around 1,821 students a year, including 1,821 undergrad students. Bates College provides on-campus housing for up to 1,764 students. The majority of students live on campus, and first year-students are required to live in campus housing. On the weekends, about 100% of students stay on-campus and participate in campus events and social life.

📆 Mark your calendar! The deadline to apply regular decision to Bates College for Fall 2023 is January 1. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2023 should find out if they have been admitted by April 1.

There are many ways for students to get involved at Bates College!

Love music or performing? Sing in a chorus or perform with one of Bates College's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? Bates College students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Bates College does not have any fraternities or sororities, do it might be a good option if Greek life isn't a priority for you.

Planning to play sports? Bates College has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Bates College on the Student Life page.

Is Bates College a Good School?

There is no one way to define a "good" college or university. Admissions criteria, acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how competitive an institution is.

Let's take a look at these factors to get a better sense of what Bates College offers and if it might be a good choice for you.

2022 Acceptance Rate for Bates College

It is very difficult to get into Bates College. Around 17% of applicants get into Bates College each year. Out of 7,319 applications received in 2022, 1,267 students were offered admission.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Bates College

Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. It is a way to measure how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

About 92% of students who start at Bates College come back the next year. Bates College's six-year graduation rate for undergrads is 90%. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

Job Outcomes for Bates College Grads

Job placement statistics for recent graduates can give you a sense of the return on investment a school offers.

Check with Bates College directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.

Bates College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students.

As of 2022, the total market value of Bates College's endowment was $466 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. The school spends $20,905 for each full-time student enrolled.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Bates College

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.

Bates College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $54,033 a year.

Graduates in the class of 2022 had an average of $26,020 in student loans per borrower. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022

Some financial aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so don't give your money (or info!) to any website that claim you do.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Bates College.

Based on this information, is Bates College the school for you? Remember, the best school for one person may be a terrible fit for another! So ask yourself: Is Bates College a good school for you?

If Bates College seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

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Where is Bates College?

Bates College is located in the small town setting of Lewiston, Maine.

If you want to see Bates College for yourself, be sure to plan a visit! The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 95 to Lewiston, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Portland International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Bates College and Lewiston are like without leaving home.

Considering Going to School in Maine?

See a full list of colleges in Maine and save your favorites to your college list.