Bates College

Lewiston, ME · Private · Small city · Bates

Private institution in Lewiston, ME · 1,753 undergraduates · 13% acceptance rate · $69,498 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 3%Acceptance rate
Top 4%Graduation rate (4-year)
Top 7%Average SAT
Top 8%Full-time retention

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $30,7031,754th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $63,4781,979th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $63,4781,979th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $80,4401,916th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $14,275286th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $69,498290th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $59,202263rd highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 90.6%78th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 94.0%150th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 13.0%50th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: 144669th highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT: —

Campus

Undergraduates: 1,7531,017th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 10.0:1436th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 10.2%2,065th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 127 mi (BOS)

On 4 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

EDNov 15
ED IIJan 10
RDJan 10

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: Free
Personal essay: Required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 33 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
EconomicsSocial Sciences	bachelors	$63,749	$69,338
Political Science and GovernmentSocial Sciences	bachelors	$49,136	$38,289
History	bachelors	$47,260	$51,273
MathematicsMathematics & Statistics	bachelors	$38,289	—
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNatural Resources	bachelors	$32,382	$26,353
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesEnglish Language & Literature	bachelors	$30,409	—
English Language and Literature, GeneralEnglish Language & Literature	bachelors	$29,685	$30,771
Psychology, GeneralPsychology	bachelors	$29,685	$25,194
Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences	bachelors	$26,353	—
AnthropologySocial Sciences	bachelors	—	—
Area StudiesArea & Ethnic Studies	bachelors	—	—
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyBiological Sciences	bachelors	—	—

Campus facts

Founded in 1855source
Athletic nickname: "Bobcats"source
Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
School colors: #881124source
Motto: "Amore Ac Studio (Latin)"source
Campus size: about 133 acressource
Formerly known as "Maine State Seminary" (1855–1863)source
Athletic conference: NESCACsource
A [[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program institutionsource
A Space-grant]], / Annapolis Group institutionsource
Fight song: ""School Songs""source
Notable alum: Desmond Tutusource
Notable alum: Seamus Heaneysource
Notable alum: Robert F. Kennedysource
Notable alum: Buckminster Fullersource
Notable alum: Anna Kendricksource

Athletics — 16 sports

NCAA Division III with football · NCAA Division III

Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)

Rowing: 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.