Overview of Bates College
Bates College is a highly selective liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 12%. Situated in Lewiston, Maine, Bates was founded in 1855. The institution boasts a 10-to-1 student/faculty ratio, and students can expect lots of interaction between students and faculty as the college emphasizes collaborative learning. The institution has a large selection of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students to choose from. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations. Because of its accomplishments in STEM and the liberal arts, Phi Beta Kappa granted the university membership.
Enrollment
- Total Enrollment: 1,832 (all undergraduates)
- Gender Breakdown: 50 percent male/50 percent female
- 100 percent full-time
Cost of Attendance Information
- Tuition and Fees: $55,683
- Books: $900
- Room and Board: $15,705
- Other Expenses: $1,250
- Total Cost: $73,583
Financial Aid Information
- Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 46 percent
- Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
- Grants: 43 percent
- Loans: 22 percent
- Average Amount of Aid
- Grants: $7,046
- Loans: $22,149
Academic Programs Offered
- Most Popular Majors: Social Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; English Language and Literature/Letters; Psychology; and Visual and Performing Arts
Retention and Graduation
- First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 94 percent
- Transfer-Out Rate: 9 percent
- 4-Year Graduation Rate: 86 percent
- 6-Year Graduation Rate: 89 percent
NCAA Athletic Programs
- Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Crew-Rowing, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Skiing-Snowboarding, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field
- Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Crew-Rowing, Field Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Skiing-Snowboarding, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
Overview of Bates College Admissions
Bates College accepts fewer than one-fourth of applicants and is a highly selective liberal arts college. Students with good grades and good test scores are likely to be admitted. Applicants must complete an online application and send test scores from either the SAT or ACT and high school transcripts. Half of the students submit SAT scores while half submit ACT scores.
Glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the admissions offices mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the next steps of the application process. Interested students should check out the university’s website, which has helpful tips and contact information for the admissions offices.
Admissions Data
During the 2018-19 admissions phase, Bates College had an acceptance rate of 12.1%. For every 100 students who provided applications, 12 students gained admission, making Bates’ admissions process highly competitive.
SAT Requirements and Scores
Bates has a test-optional testing policy. Applicants to Bates can send ACT or SAT scores. However, they aren’t necessary. During the 2018-19 admissions phase, 46% of admitted students provided SAT scores.
This admissions data reveals that of those who provided test scores during the 2018-19 admissions phase, most of Bates’ admitted students score within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the reading and writing part, 50% of students admitted to Bates scored between 640 and 720, while 25% scored below 640, and 25% scored over 720. On the math part, 50% of admitted students scored between 650 and 740, while 25% scored below 650, and 25% scored over 740.
ACT Requirements and Scores
Bates has a test-optional testing policy. Applicants to Bates can send ACT or SAT scores. However, they aren’t necessary. During the 2018-19 admissions phase, 32% of admitted students provided ACT scores.
This admissions data reveals that of those who provided test scores during the 2018-19 admissions phase, most of Bates’ admitted students score within the top 9% nationally on the ACT. 50% of students admitted to Bates received an overall ACT score between 29 and 32, while 25% scored over 32, and 25% scored below 29.
GPA
In 2018, the average weighted GPA of Bates College’s incoming class was 3.88. This data suggests that successful applicants to Bates have A and B grades.
Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission
If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Bates College, then it should be easy for you to gain admissions to the schools below. If Bates College is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.
Stony Brook University, University of Texas at Dallas, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Syracuse University, University of Cincinnati, Penn State University Park
Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission
If you’re a competitive candidate for Bates College, then you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.
Villanova University, Binghamton University, University of California, Berkeley, Lehigh University, University of Florida, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Texas at Austin
Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will Be More of a Challenge
These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Bates College. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.
Cornell University, Tufts University, Duke University, Northeastern University, Emory University, University of Michigan, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Applying to Bates College
Application Deadline: January 1
Undergraduate Admissions Website: https://www.bates.edu/admission/
Undergraduate Application Link(s): https://www.bates.edu/admission/apply/
