Bates: the complete school report for parents

What does Bates actually weigh in admissions?

Bates rates 8 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA, the essay, extracurricular activities, recommendations, personal qualities, talent, class rank. It does not consider 1 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is Bates's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What is the Bates waitlist really like?

Bates offered a place on its waiting list to 2,103 applicants and 795 accepted one. 39 were ultimately admitted. That is 4.9% of those who waited.

Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?

Bates admitted 20.6% of 165 transfer applicants, against 14.8% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here.

When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?

Applying Early Decision changes the odds materially: 33.5% of ED applicants were admitted against 14.8% overall, a gap of 19 points. ED is binding, so that advantage costs the ability to compare financial-aid offers.

What does my child need to take in high school?

Bates requires 17 academic units and recommends 23. A college-preparatory program is required.

What will Bates actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $29,351 a year at Bates after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $73,760. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 100% of demonstrated need on average.

23% of Bates graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $35,206 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $151 a month in repayment. Bates’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from Bates pay off?

Graduates earn a median $69,498 ten years after entering, and $59,202 at six years. 87% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 88% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

$108,673 to $56,602, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at Bates:

College Scorecard, by field of study.

Will my child actually graduate?

92% of first-years return for a second year. 89% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 85.0% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 85.0% of everyone else, a gap of 0.0 points.

How big are the classes?

65% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 0% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 9:1, and 95% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by New England Commission on Higher Education.

What is life at Bates like?

1,736 undergraduates, 89.53% of first-years from out of state. 100% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 92.5% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women a sorority. 15% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $77,753.

What this means for your student

• Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. Bates recommends 23 academic units.
• Early Decision is worth 19 points of admit rate, but it is binding and removes any ability to compare aid offers.
• The waitlist is live but thin: 39 of 795 who waited were admitted, about 5%.
• Its highest-earning major returns $108,673 five years out against $56,602 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
• See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.

Common questions about Bates

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