Bates vs. FDU

Should I go to Bates College or Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bates or FDU 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. Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham comparison
Bates College Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham College 3 College 4
Bates College Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham
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Overview

 Bates FDU
Location Lewiston, ME Madison, NJ
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,753 2,778
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #45 #368
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bates.edu fdu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Bates FDU
Tuition (In State) $63,478 $34,578
Tuition (Out of State) $63,478 $34,578
Room & Board $17,904 $16,102
Avg Net Price $26,658 $26,472
Avg Grant Aid $53,782 $25,882
% Receiving Grant Aid 44% 98%

Admission

 Bates FDU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,937 4,457
Admitted 1,164 4,246
Acceptance Rate 13% 95.3%
Enrolled % 43.4% 12.1%
Avg High School GPA - 3.42
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 31/33 19/30
SAT Range 1400/1510 1040/1310
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

Academics

 Bates FDU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Business (34%)
  • Psychology (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

 Bates FDU
Graduation Rate 92% 55%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,700 $52,900
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,450 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $149 $268

Diversity

 Bates FDU
% Men 35% 8%
% Women 36% 20%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 71% 58%
% Black 5% 11%
% Hispanic 8% 16%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 7% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 7%

Students

 Bates FDU
% In-State 8% 85%
% Out-of-State 80% 14%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham is larger than than Bates based on total student enrollment (2,778 students vs. 1,753 students)

Bates vs. FDU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bates or FDU?

  • Bates College is 83.6% more expensive to attend than FDU for in-state tuition ($63,478.00 vs. $34,578.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 83.6% higher at Bates than Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham ($63,478.00 vs. $34,578.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham than Bates ($26,472 vs. $26,658)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham are 11.2% lower than costs at Bates College ($16,102 vs. $17,904)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham than Bates College (98% vs. 44%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bates College students is 107.8% larger than aid received Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham ($53,782 vs. $25,882)

Bates vs. FDU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • FDU has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Bates (13%)

Bates vs. FDU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bates or FDU? 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 FDU and Bates.

  • The graduation rate at Bates is higher than Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham (92% vs. 55%)
  • Graduates from Bates College earn on average $22,800 more per year than FDU graduates after ten years. ($75,700 vs. $52,900)
  • Bates College students graduate with a $11,550 lower median federal student loan debt than FDU graduates. ($14,450 vs. $26,000)
  • Bates graduates are paying $119 less per month on federal student loans than FDU graduates. ($149 vs. $268)
  • More Bates graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FDU students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 60%)

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