About Bates College

Founded in 1855, Bates College. is a Private college. Located in Maine, which is a city setting in Maine, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 1,780 full time undergraduate students, and 0 full time graduate students.

The Bates College Academic calendar runs on a Four-one-four plan basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 10:1. There are 155 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Bates College include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate22%
Application Deadline15-Nov
Application Fee60
SAT Range
ACT Range

Admissions at are considered Most Selective, with ,24% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 9 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

94% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 71% were in the top quarter, and 45% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE Reviews

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Bates College.

2%
“We”re apathetic”
13%
“We know about current events and vote”
72%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
13%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
3%
“We save it for the classroom”
16%
“Sometimes, but not often”
45%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
35%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
5%
“I only go out in groups”
21%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
74%
“I feel extremely safe”
31%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
57%
“We bought the gear”
12%
“We live for the big game”
2%
“It”s not really our thing”
27%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
54%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
17%
“We”re a very artistic group”
2%
“Haven”t met them”
2%
“Available in class”
36%
“They keep regular office hours”
61%
“They”re always available”
94%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
6%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
0%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
3%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
57%
“We only party on weekends”
39%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
3%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
51%
“There might be people who do”
41%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
5%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
2%
“We”re apathetic”
13%
“We know about current events and vote”
72%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
13%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
3%
“We save it for the classroom”
16%
“Sometimes, but not often”
45%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
35%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
5%
“I only go out in groups”
21%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
74%
“I feel extremely safe”
31%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
57%
“We bought the gear”
12%
“We live for the big game”
2%
“It”s not really our thing”
27%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
54%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
17%
“We”re a very artistic group”
2%
“Haven”t met them”
2%
“Available in class”
36%
“They keep regular office hours”
61%
“They”re always available”
94%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
6%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
0%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
3%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
57%
“We only party on weekends”
39%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
3%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
51%
“There might be people who do”
41%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
5%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
Write a review, Enter to win $1,000 Scholarship

  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    41 Students rated on-campus housing 4.2 stars. 34 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    21 Students rated off-campus housing 3.8 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    41 Students rated campus food 4.6 stars. 73 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    42 Students rated campus facilities 4.2 stars. 38 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    42 Students rated class size 4.5 stars. 57 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    42 Students rated school activities 4.4 stars. 57 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    42 Students rated local services 3.9 stars. 31 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    42 Students rated academics 4 stars. 40 % gave the school a 5.0.

Bates College REVIEWS

What's your overall opinion of Bates College?

7 Students rated Bates College

Adam - 06/08/2020

I've had good college experiences at Bates, but I know that many of the aspects that I wanted to be better would have been improved by a larger school. It is too small, night life is wack. There are many opportunities for outdoor activities and academics but if I were to do it over I wouldn't come here.

viuro - 02/24/2020

Bates is so calm and mysterious. Everyone is intellectually motivated and are very persuasive in convincing other scholars there point of view. Intellectual debate is encouraged by all staff members. Bates highlights that there are so many people from different backgrounds and understanding their perspective on different issues will completely strengthen your views or change them. The classes are so small that you feel the sense of community and understanding that scholars and the staff want the best for everyone. The professors are always willing to help those who ask for help. You will never be turned away unless you attend at an outrageous hour. Bates isn’t just about academics,but also sports. There are so many sports teams that you don’t have to be good at sports in order to make some of the teams. We have so many activities going on that you could sometimes wonder how we get our classwork done? One of the craziest experiences is the super bowl game where they ordered over a 100 wings to watch the game. Am not really a football fan,but I was inspired to attend. That is another annoying thing that keeps spreading on campus. Inspiration. You see so many scholar led activities that you now become inspired to get involved too. You can see scholars helping out the foreign kids or helping the elderly who come for breakfast. I am inspired to be a better person just being on campus. I am a very quiet person so applying to Bates resonated with me. My experience has been anything,but quite.

Brihanna - 06/26/2019

Bates College has always been a bigger part of the Lewiston/Auburn area, they host many events and provide a restaurant open to the public, but I do think they are a tad bit prestigious​ with their sports teams, they are often cherished more than the others of the school.

Caleb - 06/13/2019

Bates is a beautiful small college with professors who care deeply about their students and who are always happy to speak with students if they need help. The dining commons are especially excellent. Academics and courses are also superb. The Bates Outing Club is amazing and they go on kinds of trips all over the country.

Bates College FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Bates College?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Bates College is 22%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. Describe the students at your school.

    My classmates became my best friends, family, and mentors who challenged me to be the best I could be.

    Read all 54 answers

  3. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    Friendly, too close, smart but not necessarily competitive.

    Read all 54 answers

  4. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    There are, of course, people who fall into these categories at the extremes, but the vast majority of students are normal, friendly, intelligent people who love life and are intent on making the most of it.

    Read all 53 answers

  5. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    There are no frats on Bates, but there is a street of wood frame houses that host some pretty sweet parties. For the underclassmen, most parties involve cheap beer and are centered around a beruit table (first thing I learned at Bates College: It's NOT beer pong!). For the most part, parties aren't exclusive and they are plenty of times when all the classes mix. All-school dances get pretty crazy and well attended, especially 80's dance at the beginning of the year. Our "trashy to classy" weekend in March involves Lick-It dance, on Friday night where the objective is to wear as little clothing as possible followed by Gala on Saturday, a semi-formal dance. Don't drink? There's plenty of others who don't and they're not ostracized or anything. There's always concerts, movies, plays, guest-speakers, intense bingo-nights, or something going on. Also, late night breakfasts at Commons during finals week make my life complete!

    Read all 52 answers

  6. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    Bates is small, there's no question about it and we're surrounded by a struggling old New England mill town that doesn't have much to offer at first glance, so sometimes the size can be very constraining. However, most of the time, there is so much going on that you don't even have time to notice the size. It's a really supportive community of students and staff--the professors are really accessible, which is a plus. There's only one dining hall (Commons) on campus so you get a chance to see basically the entire student body at some point or another. There's a new dining hall and a new dorm, so a lot is changing and being updated around the school right now, which has pluses and minuses as any big change does. Basically, Bates students love Bates. Most people you talk to feel like they've found a great match and some amazing opportunities.

    Read all 51 answers

  7. What are the academics like at your school?

    I'm on a first name basis with all my professors and they're really accessible with flexible office hours. I saw my French professor at the pool today and my politics professor on the quad with his wife and daughter, if that's any indication of how intertwined in the Bates community the professors are.

    Read all 51 answers

  8. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    You need to be very focused when it comes to school work. Always remember school comes first. Also that you need to manage your time very well.

    Read all 39 answers

  9. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    There was no Greek life and the classes were small. You were able to get to know your professors well.

    Read all 37 answers

  10. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    It is best known for being rigidly academically focused/

    Read all 11 answers

  11. What's unique about your campus?

    I consider the relationships developed between students themselves as well as students and professors the best thing about Bates College. Being at a small liberal arts school makes these relationships valuable and enjoyable. I have met friends that will be my best friends for the rest of my life at Bates. I have also had professors who I feel comfortable meeting with to talk about class or anything else. I believe at another larger school, that these relationships are more difficult to come across.

    Read all 7 answers

  12. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    The endowment, because it is not large and thus the operating budget is minimal, allowing for less financial aid and improvements to campus facilities.

    Read all 7 answers

  13. What kind of person should attend this school?

    Someone who is ready to learn, okay with being independent (meaning going places alone), does not mind cold weather, considers themselves "crunchy" or does not mind being around those types of people, and is looking for a very small teacher-student ratio.

    Read all 7 answers

  14. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    People who aren't willing to work hard. Work ethics is very important.

    Read all 7 answers

  15. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    Social life and enthusiasm of students and teachers.

    Read all 6 answers

  16. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    Bates campus is full of a creative, rich, liberal, outdoorsy group of kids in a recovering, middle class but growing mill town in very snowy Maine.

    Read all 5 answers

  17. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    nothing

    Read all 4 answers

  18. Tell us about the food and dining options.

    About 1,000 Bates people put the new dining Commons to the test over dinner on Monday, Feb. 25.

    Read all 1 answers

  19. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    I found that there was a lack of racial diversity on campus and the town of Lewiston, Maine did not always feel safe. It is a run down mill town and you felt that you needed to remain in campus the majority of your time. At times, the campus felt a bit isolating.

    Read all 1 answers

Student Body

Students

51%

female

49%

male

1,780

Total Undergrad Enrollment

N/A

Total Grad Students

83%

Out-Of-State

9%

In-State

8%

International

Organizations

111

Student Organizations

N/A

Fraternities

N/A

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

93%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
4%
% Black or African-American
6%
% Hispanic/Latino
9%
% White or Caucasian
70%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

50% of students attending Bates College receive some sort of financial aid. 10% were awarded federal grants. While 23% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$50,310

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$800

Books and Supplies

$14,190

Room and Board

65,300

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$3,497
$30 - $48K
$6,819
$48 - $75K
$12,108
$75 - $110K
$20,021
$110K & UP
$38,977

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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