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Compare Bates College vs Bowdoin College

Lewiston, ME · Brunswick, ME

Bates CollegeBowdoin College
Cost
Price after aid (average)$29,351/yr$14,398/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$2,397/yr$3,145/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$14,275$18,500
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$8,958/yr$2,800/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$11,336/yr$9,007/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$19,468/yr$13,801/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$45,886/yr$35,196/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$151/mo$196/mo
Room & board (on campus)$18,780/yr$18,488/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$900/yr$840/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$1,250/yr$1,660/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$83,532/yr$85,100/yr
Tuition (in-state)$66,590/yr$67,832/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$66,590/yr$67,832/yr
Students with Pell Grants12%17%
Students taking federal loans14%8.4%
Getting in
Students who get accepted13%7.1%
SAT range (middle 50%)1420–15301470–1550
SAT average14681520
ACT range (middle 50%)31–3433–35
ACT sections (middle 50%)No data reportedEnglish 35–36 · Math 30–34
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received8,93710,966
Students accepted1,164879
Students who enrolled505504
Accepted students who enroll43%57%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores14%37%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores8%22%
High-school GPAOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayRequiredRequired
Recommendation lettersRequiredRequired
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
College-prep programOptional (considered if sent)Required
Demonstrated competenciesOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredOptional (considered if sent)
Other admission testsNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
Legacy consideredOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate90%95%
Freshmen who come back91%97%
Typical earnings 10 years in$69,498/yr$82,735/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$50,952–$104,523$50,534–$126,498
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)93%94%
White students graduating89%96%
Black students graduating96%94%
Hispanic students graduating86%94%
Asian students graduating92%93%
Typical earnings 6 years in$59,202/yr$61,692/yr
Earn more than a HS grad86%86%
Graduate on time82%72%
Pell students who graduate96%93%
Students who transfer out7.4%3.2%
Typical earnings 8 years in$69,879/yr$79,520/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsSocial Sciences 26% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 22% · Psychology 11%Social Sciences 34% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 21% · Physical Sciences 9%
Most popular programSocial Sciences — 26% of degreesSocial Sciences — 34% of degrees
2nd most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 22% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 21% of degrees
3rd most popular programPsychology — 11% of degreesPhysical Sciences — 9% of degrees
4th most popular programNatural Resources & Conservation — 8% of degreesComputer & Information Sciences — 8% of degrees
5th most popular programPhysical Sciences — 7% of degreesArea, Ethnic & Gender Studies — 5% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Economics — $71,187/yrMathematics — $90,213/yr
Degrees in STEM35%42%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment1,7601,873
Students per professor9 : 19 : 1
Average professor pay$11,886/mo$14,216/mo
Full-time professors95%89%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byNew England Commission on Higher EducationNew England Commission on Higher Education
Median family income$86,734$61,622
SettingCity (small)Town (fringe)
LocationLewiston, MEBrunswick, ME
RegionNew EnglandNew England
Founded18551794
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationBaccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences FocusBaccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students9.8%6.8%
Men48%48%
Women52%52%
White students60%53%
Black students4.5%5.4%
Hispanic or Latino students9.7%15%
Asian students6.6%11%
Two or more races8.5%8.9%
Other / not reported0.7%0.5%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students15%19%
Part-time students0%0.1%
Students age 25+0.1%0.6%
Spent on teaching per student$27,338/yr$42,365/yr
Endowment$446.8M$2.6B
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing1,7371,877
Required to live on campusYes — for first-year studentsYes — for first-year students
Room charge (campus housing)No data reported$8,488/yr
Meal plan chargeNo data reported$9,202/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per week19 meals/week21 meals/week
Academic calendarFour-one-four planSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchNoYes
ROTCNoNo
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditYesYes
Credit for life experienceNoNo
Online classesNoNo
Whole degrees onlineNoNo
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careNoYes
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingNoNo
Student veteran organizationNoNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division III with footballNCAA Division III with football
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams2728
Student athletes725637
Athletic scholarships$0$0
Athletics budget$10.3M$15.7M
Athletics revenue$11.4M$15.7M
Recruiting spend$119,647$156,741

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.