Bates vs. Harvard

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

Bates Harvard
Location Lewiston, ME Cambridge, MA
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 1,753 30,386
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #45 #4
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bates.edu harvard.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bates Harvard
Tuition (In State) $63,478 $54,269
Tuition (Out of State) $63,478 $54,269
Room & Board $17,904 $20,374
Avg Net Price $26,658 $17,900
Avg Grant Aid $53,782 $64,942
% Receiving Grant Aid 44% 57%

Admission

Bates Harvard
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,937 56,937
Admitted 1,164 1,965
Acceptance Rate 13% 3.5%
Enrolled % 43.4% 83.7%
Avg High School GPA - 4.0
Typical High School Grades - A/A+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Extreme
ACT Range 31/33 34/36
SAT Range 1400/1510 1500/1580
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 Harvard
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (32%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • History (9%)
  • Mathematics (6%)

Outcomes

Bates Harvard
Graduation Rate 92% 97%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,700 $136,700
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,450 $6,500
Median Loan Payment $149 $67

Diversity

Bates Harvard
% Men 35% 32%
% Women 36% 38%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 71% 44%
% Black 5% 6%
% Hispanic 8% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 6%
% International 7% 11%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

Bates Harvard
% In-State 8% 15%
% Out-of-State 80% 70%

Campus

Bates Harvard
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

  • Harvard University is larger than than Bates based on total student enrollment (30,386 students vs. 1,753 students)

Bates vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bates or Harvard?

  • Bates College is 17% more expensive to attend than Harvard for in-state tuition ($63,478.00 vs. $54,269.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17% higher at Bates than Harvard University ($63,478.00 vs. $54,269.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than Bates ($17,900 vs. $26,658)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bates College are 13.8% lower than costs at Harvard University ($17,904 vs. $20,374)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Harvard University than Bates College (57% vs. 44%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 20.8% larger than aid received Bates College ($64,942 vs. $53,782)

Bates vs. Harvard Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Bates has a higher acceptance rate (13%) than Harvard (3.5%)

Bates vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Harvard is higher than Bates College (97% vs. 92%)
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn on average $61,000 more per year than Bates graduates after ten years. ($136,700 vs. $75,700)
  • Harvard University students graduate with a $7,950 lower median federal student loan debt than Bates graduates. ($6,500 vs. $14,450)
  • Harvard graduates are paying $82 less per month on federal student loans than Bates graduates. ($67 vs. $149)
  • More Bates graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 70%)

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