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Bates College

Lewiston, Maine · Private nonprofit · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$29,351What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
13%
Graduation rate
90%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
1,760
In-state tuition
$66,590Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$66,590
SAT midpoint
Not reported
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$69,498Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$29,351

Better than 22% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

90%

Better than 95% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$69,498

Better than 81% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$14,275

Better than 94% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$83,532

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$29,351

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Bates College
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time90%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return91%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$14,275
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$69,498

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Bates College by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Economics$71,18765
Research and Experimental Psychology$47,37650
Sociology$42,17028
Political Science and Government$41,05554
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$40,39517
English Language and Literature, General$40,23325
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$38,43749
Biology, General$30,61343
MathematicsNot reported29
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported26
Neurobiology and NeurosciencesNot reported17
HistoryNot reported16
PhysicsNot reported16
AnthropologyNot reported12
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported11
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported10
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesNot reported10
Area StudiesNot reported9
PhilosophyNot reported8
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported8
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported7
ChemistryNot reported6
Classical and Ancient StudiesNot reported4
DanceNot reported4
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported3
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported2
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reported2
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported1
MusicNot reported1
Psychology, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Engineering, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reportedNot reported

All 32 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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