Bates College
Bates College is a private liberal arts college in Lewiston, Maine, founded in 1855 by abolitionists and among the first coeducational colleges in New England. With about 1,736 students and a 9-to-1 student-faculty ratio, Bates is built around small classes, a senior thesis required of every student, and a distinctive 4-4-1 calendar that ends in a five-week Short Term for immersive single-course study. Admission is selective: Bates admitted roughly 14.8% of more than 9,600 applicants for its most recent class, and enrolled first-years who submitted scores posted middle-50% SATs of 1325–1510 and 31–34 on the ACT. Bates has been test-optional for decades — one of the first colleges in the country to drop the requirement — has no Greek system, and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.
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Bates admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Decision
Bates offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Admit rate by application plan
% admitted~2.6× higher admit rate applying early.
Standardized Tests
Bates is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Admissions Factors
How Bates weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Bates's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Bates admissions
Is it hard to get into Bates College?＋
Yes. Bates is highly selective, admitting about 14.8% of applicants in the most recent cycle — roughly 1,433 offers from a pool of more than 9,600, with about 493 students enrolling. As a test-optional, holistic college, Bates weighs the rigor of your course load, GPA, class rank, and application essay as very important factors rather than relying on a single cutoff.
What GPA do you need to get into Bates?＋
Bates does not publish an average admitted GPA, so there is no hard cutoff. As a holistic, test-optional college it treats academic GPA, class rank, and the rigor of your high school record as very important factors, so admitted students typically present strong grades in a demanding college-preparatory program rather than a single magic number.
Does Bates require the SAT or ACT?＋
No. Bates has been test-optional for decades and was one of the first colleges in the U.S. to drop the requirement, so you can apply without submitting scores. Among enrolled first-years who did submit, the middle 50% scored 1325–1510 on the SAT and 31–34 on the ACT; standardized test scores are only 'considered' in Bates's review, not required.
Is a 1450 SAT good enough for Bates?＋
Yes, a 1450 is competitive. It sits above the median for enrolled first-years who submitted scores — the middle 50% scored 1325–1510, with a median around 1440 — and lands in the upper half of admitted students. Because Bates is test-optional and rates standardized tests only as 'considered,' a score in this range can help your application but is not required.
Is it easier to get into Bates through Early Decision?＋
Bates offers binding Early Decision in two rounds, ED I and ED II, and the early round shows a higher admit rate than the regular pool: the early round received 949 applications and admitted 318, versus an overall acceptance rate of about 14.8%. ED is binding, so it's best suited to applicants for whom Bates is a clear first choice. Bates also marks level of applicant interest as an important admission factor.
How much does Bates cost, and does it meet financial need?＋
Tuition and required fees run about $70,596 per year, with the total cost higher once food and housing (about $19,784) are added. Bates meets 100% of demonstrated financial need; roughly 45% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, with an average first-year need-based package near $63,460.
What are the most popular majors at Bates?＋
The social sciences are the single most popular area at about 26% of degrees, followed by the biological and life sciences (about 19%) and psychology (about 9%). Environmental studies, the physical sciences, and the visual and performing arts round out the most-conferred fields, reflecting Bates's strength as a liberal arts college with a small 9-to-1 student-faculty ratio.
Does the application essay matter at Bates?＋
Yes — a lot. Bates rates the application essay as a very important factor in its holistic review, on par with GPA, course rigor, recommendations, and character, and well above standardized test scores, which are only 'considered.' With an acceptance rate around 14.8%, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest ways a strong applicant can stand out.
Source: Bates College Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-08. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Bates. Banner photo by Odwallah, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).