Bates vs. Colby College

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

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Bowdoin College Hamilton College Colgate Middlebury Tufts Vassar BC Williams Northeastern Dartmouth Amherst BU
Bates College vs. Colby College comparison
Bates College Colby College College 3 College 4
Bates College Colby College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Bates Colby College
Location Lewiston, ME Waterville, ME
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 1,753 2,284
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #45 #37
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bates.edu colby.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bates Colby College
Tuition (In State) $63,478 $63,790
Tuition (Out of State) $63,478 $63,790
Room & Board $17,904 $17,120
Avg Net Price $26,658 $15,163
Avg Grant Aid $53,782 $66,387
% Receiving Grant Aid 44% 42%

Admission

Bates Colby College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,937 17,786
Admitted 1,164 1,215
Acceptance Rate 13% 6.8%
Enrolled % 43.4% 49.8%
Avg High School GPA - 3.86
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Extreme
ACT Range 31/33 32/34
SAT Range 1400/1510 1440/1550
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 1, 2026

Academics

Bates Colby 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 (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Bates Colby College
Graduation Rate 92% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,700 $73,400
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,450 $19,345
Median Loan Payment $149 $200

Diversity

Bates Colby College
% Men 35% 0%
% Women 36% 0%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 71% 62%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 8% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 7% 11%
% Unknown Race 0% 7%

Students

Bates Colby College
% In-State 8% 7%
% Out-of-State 80% 79%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Colby College is larger than than Bates based on total student enrollment (2,284 students vs. 1,753 students)

Bates vs. Colby College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bates or Colby College?

  • Colby College is 0.5% more expensive to attend than Bates for in-state tuition ($63,790.00 vs. $63,478.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.5% higher at Colby College than Bates College ($63,790.00 vs. $63,478.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Bates ($15,163 vs. $26,658)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 4.6% lower than costs at Bates College ($17,120 vs. $17,904)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bates College than Colby College (44% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 23.4% larger than aid received Bates College ($66,387 vs. $53,782)

Bates vs. Colby College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Bates has a higher acceptance rate (13%) than Colby College (6.8%)

Bates vs. Colby College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bates or Colby 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 Colby College and Bates.

  • The graduation rate at Bates is higher than Colby College (92% vs. 91%)
  • Graduates from Bates College earn on average $2,300 more per year than Colby College graduates after ten years. ($75,700 vs. $73,400)
  • Bates College students graduate with a $4,895 lower median federal student loan debt than Colby College graduates. ($14,450 vs. $19,345)
  • Bates graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than Colby College graduates. ($149 vs. $200)
  • More Bates graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colby College students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 88%)

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