My list

Bates College

Lewiston, Maine · Private · 1,760 undergrads

Bates admits 15% of applicants (fall 2025, Common Data Set 2025-26), is test-optional for fall 2027, and regular decision is due Jan 10, 2027.

See your odds and what families like yours paid. It stays on your device. Add my SAT and income

Can I get into Bates?

15% of applicants get in

Grades and essays carry this one; most strong applicants still hear no. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent scores had 1325–1510 on the SAT.

Add your SAT to see where you sit

Likely: even the low end of our estimate is 60% or more, and the college admits at least 25% of applicants. Target: our estimate is 30% or more. Reach: our estimate is under 30%, or the college admits under 15%. Long shot: our estimate is under 12%, or the college admits under 12%. Estimates use the college's admit rate and score range plus your grades and scores. They are not a promise.

9,660 applied, 1,433 admitted, fall 2025 (Common Data Set).

What does Bates cost?

$27,390 a year

What students who got federal aid paid on average after grants, 2024-25. The sticker price, with housing and food, is $87,520.

Tap your family income:

Average paid after grants by family income
under $30,000$1,899
$30,000–$48,000$7,617
$48,000–$75,000$9,606
$75,000–$110,000$21,363
over $110,000$46,685

Own a business or have divorced parents? Run Bates's own calculator.

Net price 2024-25, College Scorecard.

When is Bates due?

6 days left

6days
Early decisionBinding
Due Sunday, Nov 15, 2026
62days
Early decision IIBinding
Due Sunday, Jan 10, 2027
62days
Regular decision
Due Sunday, Jan 10, 2027
Add to calendar Every Bates deadline

Checked on bates.edu Nov 5, 2026. See the source

Does Bates need the SAT or ACT?Optional

No.

Test-optional for fall 2027. 12% of enrolled first-years sent the SAT. Send your SAT if it's 1420 or higher, the middle of what enrolled first-years scored.

Which colleges require scores

Checked on bates.edu Nov 2, 2026. See the source

What it's like

1,760
undergrads. Small, so classes are small and you'll know a lot of faces.
City
Campus setting in Lewiston, ME.
91%
of first-years come back for year two.
85%
finish in four years. 91% within six.
$98.4k
median pay 10 years after starting.
$12.3k
median federal debt at graduation.

Lists Bates is on

Test-optional collegesColleges due Nov 15Early decision II collegesDeadlines after Jan 1Colleges for a 1400 SATColleges for a 1500 SATColleges for a 1450 SATColleges for a 32 ACTColleges for a 34 ACT

Questions people ask

Is Bates College test-optional for fall 2027?
Yes. Bates is test-optional for students entering in fall 2027, so you choose whether to send SAT or ACT scores. Checked on bates.edu on Nov 2, 2026.
What is Bates College's acceptance rate?
15% for fall 2025: 1,433 of 9,660 applicants were admitted (Common Data Set).
What SAT score do you need for Bates College?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent SAT scores had 1325 to 1510 (Common Data Set, fall 2025). A quarter scored higher and a quarter lower, so a score in that range is typical, not a cutoff.
How much does Bates College cost for a family earning $60,000?
Families earning $48,000–$75,000 paid an average of $9,606 a year after grants in 2024-25 (students who got federal aid). The sticker price is $87,520.
When is the Bates College application deadline for fall 2027?
Early decision is due Nov 15, 2026. Early decision II is due Jan 10, 2027. Regular decision is due Jan 10, 2027. Checked on bates.edu on Nov 5, 2026.
Does Bates College have early decision?
Yes. 318 of 949 early decision applicants were admitted (34%) in fall 2025. Early decision is binding: if you're admitted, you go.