Bates vs. Bard College

Deciding between Bates College and Bard College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Bates College
Bard College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bates Lewiston, ME
  • Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
  • Setting
  • Bates Small City
  • Bard College Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Bates 1,760
  • Bard College 2,911
  • Type
  • Bates Private 4 Year
  • Bard College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bates #41
  • Bard College #184
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bates -
  • Bard College -
  • Status
  • Bates Non-profit
  • Bard College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bates
  • Bard College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bates $66,590
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bates $66,590
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Room & Board
  • Bates $18,780
  • Bard College $18,852
  • Average Net Price
  • Bates $24,723
  • Bard College $29,320
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bates $58,809
  • Bard College $55,235
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bates 40%
  • Bard College 74%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bates 10,027
  • Bard College 7,583
  • Admitted
  • Bates 1,336
  • Bard College 3,952
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bates 13.3%
  • Bard College 52.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Bates 36.5%
  • Bard College 12.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bates 1480
  • Bard College 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bates 32
  • Bard College 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bates -
  • Bard College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bates -
  • Bard College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bates Exceptional
  • Bard College Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bates Very High
  • Bard College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Bates 31/34
  • Bard College 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Bates 1420/1530
  • Bard College 1270/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bates Test optional
  • Bard College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bates Jan 1, 2027
  • Bard College Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bates 9:1
  • Bard College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bates
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Bard College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • General Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bates 92%
  • Bard College 76%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bates $75,700
  • Bard College $41,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bates 90%
  • Bard College 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bates $14,450
  • Bard College $26,194
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bates $149
  • Bard College $270

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bates 48%
  • Bard College 42%
  • % Women
  • Bates 52%
  • Bard College 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bates Medium
  • Bard College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Bates No
  • Bard College No
  • % White
  • Bates 71%
  • Bard College 63%
  • % Asian
  • Bates 4%
  • Bard College 6%
  • % Black
  • Bates 5%
  • Bard College 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bates 8%
  • Bard College 1%
  • % Native American
  • Bates 0%
  • Bard College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bates 0%
  • Bard College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bates 4%
  • Bard College 0%
  • % International
  • Bates 7%
  • Bard College 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bates 0%
  • Bard College 11%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bates 8%
  • Bard College 30%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bates 81%
  • Bard College 60%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Bates Yes
  • Bard College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Bates Yes
  • Bard College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Bates Yes
  • Bard College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Bates No
  • Bard College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Bates No
  • Bard College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Bates College in Lewiston, ME with Bard College in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bard College is larger than Bates based on total student enrollment (2,911 students vs. 1,760 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bates College is located in Lewiston, ME (Small City setting); Bard College is in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting).
  • Bates College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bates College 9:1; Bard College 9:1.

Bates vs. Bard College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bates or Bard College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bates College than Bard College ($24,723 vs. $29,320).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bates College are 0.4% lower than at Bard College ($18,780 vs. $18,852).
  • Bates College is 0.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bard College (about $154 more per year; $66,590.00 vs. $66,436.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at Bates than at Bard College (about $154 more per year; $66,590.00 vs. $66,436.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bard College than at Bates College (74% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bates College students is 6.5% larger than aid received by Bard College students ($58,809 vs. $55,235).

Bates vs. Bard College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bates or Bard College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Bard College and Bates.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bates College (1480) is 120 points higher than at Bard College (1360).
  • Incoming Bates students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Bard College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bates College 1420/1530; Bard College 1270/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bates College 31/34; Bard College 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bates - Test optional; Bard College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bates Jan 1, 2027; Bard College Jan 1, 2027.
  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.1%) than Bates (13.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.5% at Bates vs. 12.8% at Bard College.

Bates vs. Bard College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bates and Bard College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Bates College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Bard College's (76%).
  • Graduates from Bates College earn a median of about $34,100 more per year than Bard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,700 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bates College graduates have a $11,744 lower median loan debt than Bard College graduates ($14,450 vs. $26,194).
  • Among borrowers, Bates graduates have an estimated $121 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bard College graduates ($149 vs. $270).
  • More Bates graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bard College students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 81%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.