Bates College

Lewiston, ME · Private nonprofit · Small city · Website

Admission rate: 13%; Very selective
Average net price: $27,390; per year, after aid
Graduation rate: 88%
Median earnings: $98,373; 10 years after enrolling

Bates College is a private nonprofit college in Lewiston, ME with 1,760 undergraduates. It admits 13% of applicants, and admitted students average 1468 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $27,390 per year ($1,899 for families earning under $30,000). 88% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $98,373 ten years after enrolling.

private nonprofit college

Admissions

Admission rate: 13%; Fall 2024
Testing policy: Test optional; Fall 2024
Applicants: 8,937; Fall 2023
Admitted: 1,164; Fall 2023
Yield: 43%; of admitted students enrolled

Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.

SAT Reading & Writing710–750

200800

SAT Math710–780

200800

ACT Composite31–34

136

What Bates College looks at

As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).

High school recordRequired
High school GPAConsidered
College-prep courseworkConsidered
Class rankConsidered
Essay or personal statementRequired
RecommendationsRequired
Demonstrated competenciesConsidered
Legacy statusConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
English proficiency testRequired

Cost

Cost of attendance: $87,520; sticker price, per year
Tuition & fees: $70,146

Net price by family income

Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.

$0–30k$1,899
$30–48k$7,617
$48–75k$9,606
$75–110k$21,363
$110k+$46,685

Get a personal estimate with Bates College's net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 88%
Freshman retention: 91%
Median earnings: $98,373; 10 yrs after enrolling
Median debt: $12,250; at graduation

Students

Undergraduates: 1,760
Student–faculty ratio: 9:1
Receive Pell grants: 14%

White60%
Hispanic10%
Black5%
Asian7%

Bates College FAQ

What is Bates College's acceptance rate?+

Bates College admits 13% of applicants, which makes it very selective.

What SAT score do you need for Bates College?+

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 710–750 on SAT Reading and Writing and 710–780 on SAT Math; the average total is 1468.

What ACT score do you need for Bates College?+

The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 31–34.

Is Bates College test optional?+

Test optional (considered if submitted).

How many students apply to Bates College?+

In Fall 2023, 8,937 students applied to Bates College and 1,164 were admitted; 505 enrolled.

Does Bates College consider legacy status?+

Yes. Bates College reported that legacy status is considered in admissions (Fall 2023).

Does Bates College require an essay?+

Bates College reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).

How much does Bates College cost?+

The sticker cost of attendance is $87,520 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $27,390.

What is Bates College's graduation rate?+

88% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Sources

Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
IPEDS unit ID 160977 · How we use this data