Bates vs. Bowdoin College

Should I go to Bates College or Bowdoin College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bates or Bowdoin College 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. Bowdoin College comparison
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Bates College Bowdoin College
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Overview

Bates Bowdoin College
Location Lewiston, ME Brunswick, ME
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 1,753 1,850
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #45 #26
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bates.edu bowdoin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bates Bowdoin College
Tuition (In State) $63,478 $64,304
Tuition (Out of State) $63,478 $64,304
Room & Board $17,904 $17,690
Avg Net Price $26,658 $23,110
Avg Grant Aid $53,782 $57,280
% Receiving Grant Aid 44% 52%

Admission

Bates Bowdoin College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,937 10,966
Admitted 1,164 879
Acceptance Rate 13% 8%
Enrolled % 43.4% 57.3%
Avg High School GPA - -
Typical High School Grades - -
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Extreme
ACT Range 31/33 33/35
SAT Range 1400/1510 1480/1550
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 5, 2026

Academics

Bates Bowdoin College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

Bates Bowdoin College
Graduation Rate 92% 92%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,700 $75,000
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,450 $18,833
Median Loan Payment $149 $194

Diversity

Bates Bowdoin College
% Men 35% 0%
% Women 36% 0%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 71% 63%
% Black 5% 5%
% Hispanic 8% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 6%
% International 7% 5%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Bates Bowdoin College
% In-State 8% 10%
% Out-of-State 80% 81%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bowdoin College is larger than than Bates based on total student enrollment (1,850 students vs. 1,753 students)

Bates vs. Bowdoin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bates or Bowdoin College?

  • Bowdoin College is 1.3% more expensive to attend than Bates for in-state tuition ($64,304.00 vs. $63,478.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.3% higher at Bowdoin College than Bates College ($64,304.00 vs. $63,478.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Bates ($23,110 vs. $26,658)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 1.2% lower than costs at Bates College ($17,690 vs. $17,904)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bowdoin College than Bates College (52% vs. 44%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 6.5% larger than aid received Bates College ($57,280 vs. $53,782)

Bates vs. Bowdoin College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Bates has a higher acceptance rate (13%) than Bowdoin College (8%)

Bates vs. Bowdoin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bates or Bowdoin College? 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 Bowdoin College and Bates.

  • The graduation rate at Bates is the same as at Bowdoin College (92% vs. 92%)
  • Graduates from Bates College earn on average $700 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates after ten years. ($75,700 vs. $75,000)
  • Bates College students graduate with a $4,383 lower median federal student loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates. ($14,450 vs. $18,833)
  • Bates graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than Bowdoin College graduates. ($149 vs. $194)
  • More Bates graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowdoin College students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 87%)

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