Bates vs. Smith College

Deciding between Bates College and Smith College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Bates College
Smith College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bates Lewiston, ME
  • Smith College Northampton, MA
  • Setting
  • Bates Small City
  • Smith College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Bates 1,760
  • Smith College 2,857
  • Type
  • Bates Private 4 Year
  • Smith College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bates #41
  • Smith College #68
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bates -
  • Smith College -
  • Status
  • Bates Non-profit
  • Smith College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bates
  • Smith College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bates $66,590
  • Smith College $65,178
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bates $66,590
  • Smith College $65,178
  • Room & Board
  • Bates $18,780
  • Smith College $22,570
  • Average Net Price
  • Bates $24,723
  • Smith College $27,305
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bates $58,809
  • Smith College $58,725
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bates 40%
  • Smith College 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bates 10,027
  • Smith College 8,666
  • Admitted
  • Bates 1,336
  • Smith College 1,820
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bates 13.3%
  • Smith College 21%
  • Enrolled
  • Bates 36.5%
  • Smith College 35.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bates 1480
  • Smith College 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bates 32
  • Smith College 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bates -
  • Smith College 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bates -
  • Smith College A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bates Exceptional
  • Smith College Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bates Very High
  • Smith College Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Bates 31/34
  • Smith College 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • Bates 1420/1530
  • Smith College 1420/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bates Test optional
  • Smith College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bates Jan 1, 2027
  • Smith College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bates 9:1
  • Smith College 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bates
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Smith College
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bates 92%
  • Smith College 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bates $75,700
  • Smith College $48,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bates 90%
  • Smith College 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bates $14,450
  • Smith College $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bates $149
  • Smith College $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bates 48%
  • Smith College 2%
  • % Women
  • Bates 52%
  • Smith College 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bates Medium
  • Smith College High
  • HBCU
  • Bates No
  • Smith College No
  • % White
  • Bates 71%
  • Smith College 45%
  • % Asian
  • Bates 4%
  • Smith College 12%
  • % Black
  • Bates 5%
  • Smith College 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bates 8%
  • Smith College 10%
  • % Native American
  • Bates 0%
  • Smith College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bates 0%
  • Smith College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bates 4%
  • Smith College 5%
  • % International
  • Bates 7%
  • Smith College 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bates 0%
  • Smith College 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bates 8%
  • Smith College 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bates 81%
  • Smith College 74%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Bates Yes
  • Smith College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Bates Yes
  • Smith College Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Bates Yes
  • Smith College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Bates No
  • Smith College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Bates No
  • Smith College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Bates College in Lewiston, ME with Smith College in Northampton, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Smith College is larger than Bates based on total student enrollment (2,857 students vs. 1,760 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bates College is located in Lewiston, ME (Small City setting); Smith College is in Northampton, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Bates College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Smith College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bates College 9:1; Smith College 8:1.

Bates vs. Smith College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bates or Smith College? 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 Smith College ($24,723 vs. $27,305).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bates College are 16.8% lower than at Smith College ($18,780 vs. $22,570).
  • Bates College is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Smith College (about $1,412 more per year; $66,590.00 vs. $65,178.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at Bates than at Smith College (about $1,412 more per year; $66,590.00 vs. $65,178.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Smith College than at Bates College (67% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bates College students is 0.1% larger than aid received by Smith College students ($58,809 vs. $58,725).

Bates vs. Smith College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bates or Smith College? 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 Smith College and Bates.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bates College (1480) is the same as at Smith College (1480).
  • Incoming Smith College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at Bates).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bates College 1420/1530; Smith College 1420/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bates College 31/34; Smith College 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bates - Test optional; Smith College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bates Jan 1, 2027; Smith College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Smith College has a higher acceptance rate (21%) than Bates (13.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.5% at Bates vs. 35.4% at Smith College.

Bates vs. Smith College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bates and Smith College? 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 Smith College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Bates College earn a median of about $26,800 more per year than Smith College graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,700 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bates College graduates have a $4,550 lower median loan debt than Smith College graduates ($14,450 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Bates graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith College graduates ($149 vs. $196).
  • More Bates graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Smith College students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 80%)

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.