Bates College
A good fit for high-achieving applicants seeking a top-tier program and students who want small classes and close faculty access. no major red flags in the data. solid earnings of $74,300 within 10 years; strong 90% graduation rate.
About This School
Bates College is a private nonprofit institution located in Lewiston, Maine with approximately 1,760 undergraduate students enrolled. Admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 13%. The average net price after financial aid is $29,351 per year. The graduation rate is 90%, and the typical graduate earns $74,300 within 10 years of enrollment.
Bates College is a private liberal arts college in Lewiston, Maine. Anchored by the Historic Quad, the campus of Bates totals 813 acres (329 ha) with a small urban campus. It maintains 600 acres (240 ha) of nature preserve known as the Bates–Morse Mountain Conservation Area near Campbell Island and a coastal center on Atkins Bay. With an annual enrollment of approximately 1,800 students, it is the smallest college in its athletic conference.
This is a strong option for students who thrive in small, discussion-driven environments — a 94% freshman retention rate and 91% graduation rate suggest students who get in tend to genuinely want to stay. The financial picture is actually reasonable for a selective private college, with median debt at graduation of just $12,442 and earnings of $74,300 a decade out. The 13% acceptance rate makes it a reach for most applicants, but if you're a fit academically and genuinely drawn to a tight-knit liberal arts experience in a small city rather than a college-town bubble, it's worth a serious look.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 14% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (1,760 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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Southern Maine Community College
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University of Southern Maine
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Central Maine Community College
Auburn, ME · Public
University of Maine at Augusta
Augusta, ME · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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