Bates College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Lewiston, Maine · Private nonprofit · Highly selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- Early Decision
- Early Decision II
- 9,660
- Applicants
- 1,433
- Admitted15%
- 493
- Enrolled
- 34%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Highly selective15% admittedRanked #26 (tie) in National Liberal Arts Colleges; Economics #78 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Bates College (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Bates College a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Bates College against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Bates College is a private nonprofit university in Lewiston, Maine that admits about 15% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $29,351 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Research and Experimental Psychology, Economics and Political Science and Government, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 89% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 6.8 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Bates College is a private institution located in Lewiston, Maine and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Bates College admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 15%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT around 1440. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $29,351 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Bates College?
Most admitted students at Bates College present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
Compare Bates College with the other schools on your list
Open Bates College in College Search to set it beside up to three other colleges on cost, admission odds and outcomes, and save it to a shortlist when you are ready.
What does Bates College weight in admissions?
Bates College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
8- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Academic GPA
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
Important
4- First generation status
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Level of applicant's interest
Considered
5- Standardized test scores
- Interview
- Alumni/ae relation
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not Considered
1- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Bates College typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 710–780. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–34. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1325 |
| 50th percentile | 1440 |
| 75th percentile | 1510 |
| % submitting SAT | 12.98% |
| 25th percentile | 31 |
| 50th percentile | 32 |
| 75th percentile | 34 |
| % submitting ACT | 8.32% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional since 1984 for all applicants; superscores SAT and ACT.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Bates College's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Bates College actually cost?
Published tuition is $66,590 for in-state students and $66,590 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,780 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $29,351 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 12% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $73,760 |
| Required fees | $475 |
| Room and board | $20,800 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $29,351 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 100% |
| Average need-based grant | $59,701 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 23% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $35,206 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA and CSS Profile (incl. noncustodial parent)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $0 |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Bates College
| Regular deadline | 1/10 |
| Notification date | 4/1 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 15 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 10 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 34% |
Will my child graduate from Bates College?
These predict outcomes at Bates College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Bates College
The most popular undergraduate programs at Bates College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Research and Experimental Psychology, Economics and Political Science and Government. Across all programs, Bates College confers roughly 373 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $108,673 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 83 | n/a |
| Economics | 68 | $108,673 |
| Political Science and Government | 57 | $68,910 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 40 | $56,602 |
| Biology, General | 37 | n/a |
| Sociology | 35 | n/a |
| Mathematics | 27 | n/a |
| History | 26 | $75,175 |
Is Bates College safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Bates College disclosed 12 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 6.8 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 4 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Bates College?
About 93% of undergraduates at Bates College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Maine parents ask about
Colleges that admit at a similar rate
Next steps for Bates College
Common questions parents ask about Bates College
What GPA do I need for Bates College?
Most admitted students at Bates College present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
What SAT or ACT score does Bates College typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 710–780. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–34.
How much does Bates College actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Bates College after grants and scholarships is $29,351 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $66,590. Budget against the net figure.
Is Bates College realistic for my child?
Bates College admits 15% of applicants, so 710–780 SAT Math is target range and below 710 is a reach. Then check the $29,351 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Bates College?
Bates College accepts about 15% of applicants out of roughly 9,660 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.
Is Bates College test-optional?
Yes. Bates College is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Bates College?
About 89% of students at Bates College graduate within six years, and 79% finish in four years. 92% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Bates College?
Bates College's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 34%, compared with its overall rate of 15%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Bates College look for in applicants?
Bates College rates course rigor, class rank, GPA and the application essay as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Bates College a public or private school, and where is it located?
Bates College is a private nonprofit institution located in Lewiston, Maine.
What are the most popular majors at Bates College?
The largest undergraduate majors at Bates College by annual graduates are Research and Experimental Psychology, Economics and Political Science and Government. The school awards about 373 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Bates College safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Bates College reported 12 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 6.8 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Bates College?
At Bates College, 93% of undergraduates live on campus, 0% of men are in fraternities, 0% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Bates College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers