Bates vs. BC

Should I go to Bates College or Boston College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bates or BC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Bates College vs. Boston College comparison
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Overview

 Bates BC
Location Lewiston, ME Chestnut Hill, MA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 1,753 15,280
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #45 #50
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bates.edu bc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Bates BC
Tuition (In State) $63,478 $66,410
Tuition (Out of State) $63,478 $66,410
Room & Board $17,904 $18,475
Avg Net Price $26,658 $32,590
Avg Grant Aid $53,782 $51,099
% Receiving Grant Aid 44% 43%

Admission

 Bates BC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,937 36,069
Admitted 1,164 5,645
Acceptance Rate 13% 15.7%
Enrolled % 43.4% 41.4%
Avg High School GPA - 3.86
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 31/33 33/34
SAT Range 1400/1510 1430/1540
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2026 Jan 1, 2026

Academics

 Bates BC
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • English and Literature (7%)

Outcomes

 Bates BC
Graduation Rate 92% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,700 $90,900
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 90%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,450 $19,000
Median Loan Payment $149 $196

Diversity

 Bates BC
% Men 35% 14%
% Women 36% 20%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 71% 62%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 8% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 7% 6%
% Unknown Race 0% 6%

Students

 Bates BC
% In-State 8% 21%
% Out-of-State 80% 71%

Campus

 Bates BC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Boston College is larger than than Bates based on total student enrollment (15,280 students vs. 1,753 students)

Bates vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bates or BC?

  • Boston College is 4.6% more expensive to attend than Bates for in-state tuition ($66,410.00 vs. $63,478.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.6% higher at BC than Bates College ($66,410.00 vs. $63,478.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bates College than BC ($26,658 vs. $32,590)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bates College are 3.2% lower than costs at Boston College ($17,904 vs. $18,475)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bates College than Boston College (44% vs. 43%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bates College students is 5.3% larger than aid received Boston College ($53,782 vs. $51,099)

Bates vs. BC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bates or BC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between BC or Bates .

  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (15.7%) than Bates (13%)

Bates vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bates or BC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between BC and Bates.

  • The graduation rate at Bates is higher than Boston College (92% vs. 91%)
  • Graduates from Boston College earn on average $15,200 more per year than Bates graduates after ten years. ($90,900 vs. $75,700)
  • Bates College students graduate with a $4,550 lower median federal student loan debt than BC graduates. ($14,450 vs. $19,000)
  • Bates graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than BC graduates. ($149 vs. $196)
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bates students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 90%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/