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Lewiston , ME
Bates College, located in Lewiston, Maine, is a highly esteemed liberal arts college known for its rigorous academics and strong sense of community. Founded in 1855, Bates offers a comprehensive undergraduate education with a focus on critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and cross-disciplinary learning. The college boasts a diverse student body, with students from all 50 states and more than 70 countries, contributing to a vibrant and inclusive campus environment.
Academically, Bates College offers a wide range of majors and minors across various disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and arts. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1, students benefit from small class sizes and close interactions with professors who are dedicated to teaching and mentoring. The college's commitment to academic excellence is reflected in numerous accolades, including being consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the United States.
Beyond academics, Bates College provides a vibrant and engaging campus life. Students have access to a plethora of extracurricular activities, including over 100 student-run clubs and organizations covering diverse interests, from politics and activism to sports and the arts. The college's location in Maine also offers ample opportunities for outdoor exploration and recreational activities. Additionally, the Bates community is known for its close-knit and supportive atmosphere, fostering friendships and connections that last a lifetime.
Overall, Bates College prides itself on offering a transformative educational experience that combines intellectual rigor, diversity, and a strong sense of community. With its commitment to fostering critical thinking, personal growth, and societal engagement, Bates prepares students to become well-rounded individuals who are ready to positively impact the world beyond their college years.
Bates College is a private four-year college located in Lewiston, ME. This school uses a 4-1-4 calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 13%. The freshman retention rate at Bates College is 91.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 97%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 10. The transfer application deadline is March 1.
Explore this school's profile to find out the most essential things about Bates College.
Quick Facts
1,760
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$70,146
Tuition
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
97%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to find out as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the school in order to increase your chances of being accepted. Learn some relevant info about admission at Bates College.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,336 in 2025. Bates College has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers an unmatched educational experience.
Test Scores
14.96% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 4.71% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 78.08% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 16.44% between 1,200 and 1,399, 5.48% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 2% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 81.82, 18.18 between 24-29 and 4 in the range between 18-23.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 10. When submitting your application as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is March 1.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Bates College was 91.3%, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 97%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the best fit for you is not an easy task. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Bates College in 2025 was 1,760.
That year, the institution had 9.32% of students coming from another state. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 1,760, 126 of which were international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 6.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 823 male and 861 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 84 Asian students and 57 Afro-American students in 2025. 113 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 103 identified with more than one race. The school also had 1 student who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 3 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 8 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into account when applying to any college or university is the financial component. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Bates College estimated tuition fees.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $70,146 in 2025. As this is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $900.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
In 2025, room and board cost at Bates College amounted to $19,784 a year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 70,146 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,784 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 900 |
| Total Expense | $ 90,830 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial aid for students. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Bates College, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 211 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $64,535.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
727 students received some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Bates College is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 727. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $1,829,142, and state $99,700.
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $553,877 USD.
Majors
Faculty
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Bates College was 9:1: that means 9 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 200. Out of that number, there were 86 male and 113 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Bates College.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about students' life at Bates College.
Its campus is 133 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 110. The student organization that gathers the largest number of students is WRBC (student radio station), followed by Representative Assembly and Chase Hall Committee (student activities planning). Other popular organizations among the students at Bates College are International Club and Outing Club (outdoor recreation).
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a passion for media and communication? Bates College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Bates College, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a 24-hour security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of Bates College.
All in all, campus life at Bates College is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Bates College.
Career Counselling
At Bates College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career.
FAQ
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Bates College is located in Lewiston, ME.
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Bates College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Bates College is 70,146 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Bates College is 13%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Bates College is 91.3%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
