Bates vs. Colby-Sawyer

Comparable Facts

Compare Bates College in Lewiston, ME with Colby Sawyer College in New London, NH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bates College is larger than Colby-Sawyer based on total student enrollment (1,760 students vs. 972 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bates College is located in Lewiston, ME (Small City setting); Colby Sawyer College is in New London, NH (Distant Rural setting).
• Bates College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Colby Sawyer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bates College 9:1; Colby Sawyer College 10:1.

Bates vs. Colby-Sawyer Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bates or Colby-Sawyer? 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 Colby-Sawyer ($24,723 vs. $27,496).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby Sawyer College are 7.5% lower than at Bates College ($17,364 vs. $18,780).
• Bates College is 248.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Colby-Sawyer (about $47,465 more per year; $66,590.00 vs. $19,125.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 248.2% higher at Bates than at Colby Sawyer College (about $47,465 more per year; $66,590.00 vs. $19,125.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Colby Sawyer College than at Bates College (100% vs. 40%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bates College students is 429.9% larger than aid received by Colby Sawyer College students ($58,809 vs. $11,098).

Bates vs. Colby-Sawyer Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bates or Colby-Sawyer? 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 Colby-Sawyer and Bates.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bates College 1420/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bates College 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bates - Test optional; Colby-Sawyer - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bates Jan 1, 2027.
• Colby-Sawyer has a higher acceptance rate (80.1%) than Bates (13.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.5% at Bates vs. 13% at Colby-Sawyer.

Bates vs. Colby-Sawyer Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bates and Colby-Sawyer? 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 Colby Sawyer College's (54%).
• Graduates from Bates College earn a median of about $30,800 more per year than Colby-Sawyer graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,700 vs. $44,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bates College graduates have a $12,550 lower median loan debt than Colby-Sawyer graduates ($14,450 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Bates graduates have an estimated $130 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colby-Sawyer graduates ($149 vs. $279).
• More Bates graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colby-Sawyer students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 77%)

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.