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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. 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. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 1.
To find out more about what Bates College has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
1,760
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$70,146
Tuition
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
97%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Check out some essential data about admission policy and requirements at Bates College.
According to the newest data, 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 considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the applicant. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Bates College provides a unique educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 14.96% and ACT scores 4.71%. 78.08% of the enrolled students 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 freshman 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
The deadline for submitting applications to this school is January 10. If you are applying as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is March 1.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that metric 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 have.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 97%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the best match for you is not a simple task. Gaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Bates College in 2025 was 1,760.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 9.32% for that year. There was a total of 1,760 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 126 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, which is indicative of the importance this institution places on gender equality.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. A diverse student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 84, while the number of African American students was 57. 113 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 103 as multirace. The school also had 1 student who declared 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
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. Here are some important information on Bates College costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition cost for this university.
Tuition in 2025 was $70,146 for full-time domestic students. Bates College is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students.
Books and Supplies
The approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another significant expense. The estimated price of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $900.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do schools typically charge for accommodation and meals?
At Bates College, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $19,784.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 70,146 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,784 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 900 |
| Total Expense | $ 90,830 |
Financial Aid
Financial support for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Bates College, here are some recent data you should consider.
According to the most recent data, 211 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students amounted to $64,535.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
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 overall 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 reached $1,829,142, and state $99,700.
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $553,877 USD.
Open Applications
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Majors
Faculty
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2025, this ratio at Bates College was 9:1. That means that there were 9 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 200 teachers at this school. This number included 86 men and 113 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Bates College.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Bates College is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some information about students' life at Bates College.
Its campus spans 133 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 110 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. The most popular student organization is WRBC (student radio station), followed by Representative Assembly and Chase Hall Committee (student activities planning). Other popular student organizations at this school are International Club and Outing Club (outdoor recreation).
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. 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 phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
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. There is 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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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 70,146 USD per academic year for Bates College.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Bates College is 13%.
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According to the latest information, 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.