Bates vs. Wellesley

Should I go to Bates College or Wellesley College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bates or Wellesley 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. Wellesley College comparison
Bates College Wellesley College College 3 College 4
Bates College Wellesley College
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Overview

 Bates Wellesley
Location Lewiston, ME Wellesley, MA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,753 2,418
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #45 #18
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bates.edu wellesley.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Bates Wellesley
Tuition (In State) $63,478 $64,000
Tuition (Out of State) $63,478 $64,000
Room & Board $17,904 $19,920
Avg Net Price $26,658 $21,501
Avg Grant Aid $53,782 $61,549
% Receiving Grant Aid 44% 52%

Admission

 Bates Wellesley
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,937 8,184
Admitted 1,164 1,138
Acceptance Rate 13% 13.9%
Enrolled % 43.4% 50.4%
Avg High School GPA - 3.86
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 31/33 33/35
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 8, 2026

Academics

 Bates Wellesley
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 (28%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 Bates Wellesley
Graduation Rate 92% 92%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,700 $68,100
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,450 $8,900
Median Loan Payment $149 $92

Diversity

 Bates Wellesley
% Men 35% 1%
% Women 36% 3%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 71% 40%
% Black 5% 6%
% Hispanic 8% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 6%
% International 7% 12%
% Unknown Race 0% 4%

Students

 Bates Wellesley
% In-State 8% 11%
% Out-of-State 80% 73%

Campus

 Bates Wellesley
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

  • Wellesley College is larger than than Bates based on total student enrollment (2,418 students vs. 1,753 students)

Bates vs. Wellesley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bates or Wellesley?

  • Wellesley College is 0.8% more expensive to attend than Bates for in-state tuition ($64,000.00 vs. $63,478.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.8% higher at Wellesley than Bates College ($64,000.00 vs. $63,478.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wellesley College than Bates ($21,501 vs. $26,658)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bates College are 11.3% lower than costs at Wellesley College ($17,904 vs. $19,920)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wellesley College than Bates College (52% vs. 44%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 14.4% larger than aid received Bates College ($61,549 vs. $53,782)

Bates vs. Wellesley Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Wellesley has a higher acceptance rate (13.9%) than Bates (13%)

Bates vs. Wellesley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Bates is the same as at Wellesley College (92% vs. 92%)
  • Graduates from Bates College earn on average $7,600 more per year than Wellesley graduates after ten years. ($75,700 vs. $68,100)
  • Wellesley College students graduate with a $5,550 lower median federal student loan debt than Bates graduates. ($8,900 vs. $14,450)
  • Wellesley graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Bates graduates. ($92 vs. $149)
  • More Bates graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wellesley students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 86%)

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