Bates College

10/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Lewiston, ME
0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Maine

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

1,760

Location Lewiston, Maine
Website bates.edu
Type Private 4 Year
Setting Small City

Best Colleges Rank

#41

Size Small
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad

Bates College, located in Lewiston, Maine's second-largest city, operates as a private liberal arts institution approximately 40 miles north of Portland. The 133-acre campus combines traditional New England brick architecture with modern academic facilities, centered around its historic quad dating back to the college's founding in 1855 as one of the first coeducational colleges in the nation. Bates maintains a competitive admissions process and operates on a distinctive 4-4-1 academic calendar, featuring two standard semesters plus a five-week spring term for focused study or research. The college is known for its environmental studies program, interdisciplinary neuroscience major, and strong emphasis on undergraduate research, with all students completing a senior thesis. Bates requires students to live on campus for all four years, offering traditional dormitories and themed houses, and competes in NCAA Division III athletics as the Bobcats, with particularly strong programs in rowing and Nordic skiing.

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Ratings

Bates is rated within the top 9% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 10 out of 10.

Overall Rating

10 out of 10
Academics

10 out of 10
Resources

10 out of 10
Outcomes

10 out of 10
Value

10 out of 10

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Rankings

Rankings for Bates College within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

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Admissions

Admission Standards

Elite

SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1420/1530
ACT (enrolled mid-50) 31/34

Acceptance Rate

13.3%

Applications Due Jan 1, 2027
Enrollment Rate 36.5%
Application Fee $65

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Annual Cost to Attend

Tuition

$66,590

Costs for Bates College
Fee		Cost
Tuition		$66,590
Books and Supplies		$900
Other Fees		$0
Room and Board		$18,780
Budget for Other Expenses		$1,250
Total One Year Cost		$87,520

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Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$75,700 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

92% within 6 years

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Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at Bates College are Social Sciences, Biology, and Psychology. 26% of students major in Social Sciences, 10% in Biology, and 9% in Psychology.