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Lewiston, ME · Waterville, ME
| Bates College | Colby College | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $29,351/yr | $17,180/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $2,397/yr | $4,049/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $14,275 | $19,157 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $8,958/yr | $1,251/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $11,336/yr | $3,666/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $19,468/yr | $12,106/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $45,886/yr | $46,511/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $151/mo | $203/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $18,780/yr | $17,890/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | No data reported | $6,370/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $900/yr | $850/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $1,250/yr | $850/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $83,532/yr | $85,420/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $66,590/yr | $69,600/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $66,590/yr | $69,600/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 12% | 14% |
| Students taking federal loans | 14% | 8.5% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 13% | 7.1% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1420–1530 | 1460–1550 |
| SAT average | 1468 | 1501 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 31–34 | 32–34 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | No data reported | English 33–35 · Math 29–34 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 8,937 | 17,786 |
| Students accepted | 1,164 | 1,215 |
| Students who enrolled | 505 | 605 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 43% | 50% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 14% | 36% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 8% | 18% |
| High-school GPA | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 90% | 89% |
| Freshmen who come back | 91% | 94% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $69,498/yr | $80,490/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $50,952–$104,523 | $58,383–$134,924 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 93% | 88% |
| White students graduating | 89% | 91% |
| Black students graduating | 96% | 82% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 86% | 85% |
| Asian students graduating | 92% | 85% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $59,202/yr | $60,052/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 86% | 85% |
| Graduate on time | 82% | 75% |
| Pell students who graduate | 96% | 84% |
| Students who transfer out | 7.4% | 6.6% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $69,879/yr | $68,015/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Social Sciences 26% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 22% · Psychology 11% | Social Sciences 28% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 13% · Psychology 9% |
| Most popular program | Social Sciences — 26% of degrees | Social Sciences — 28% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 22% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 13% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Psychology — 11% of degrees | Psychology — 9% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Natural Resources & Conservation — 8% of degrees | Natural Resources & Conservation — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Physical Sciences — 7% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Economics — $71,187/yr | Economics — $76,401/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 35% | 31% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,760 | 2,407 |
| Students per professor | 9 : 1 | 9 : 1 |
| Average professor pay | $11,886/mo | $13,207/mo |
| Full-time professors | 95% | 93% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
| Median family income | $86,734 | $94,859 |
| Setting | City (small) | Town (remote) |
| Location | Lewiston, ME | Waterville, ME |
| Region | New England | New England |
| Founded | 1855 | 1813 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 9.8% | 11% |
| Men | 48% | 49% |
| Women | 52% | 51% |
| White students | 60% | 55% |
| Black students | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 9.7% | 8.4% |
| Asian students | 6.6% | 10% |
| Two or more races | 8.5% | 7.1% |
| Other / not reported | 0.7% | 3.5% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 15% | 11% |
| Part-time students | 0% | 0% |
| Students age 25+ | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $27,338/yr | $27,972/yr |
| Endowment | $446.8M | $1.2B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,737 | 2,260 |
| Required to live on campus | Yes — for first-year students | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | No data reported | $8,870/yr |
| Meal plan charge | No data reported | $8,250/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 19 meals/week | 21 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Four-one-four plan | Four-one-four plan |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | No | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | Yes | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | No | No |
| Whole degrees online | No | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | No |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III with football | NCAA Division III with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 27 | 30 |
| Student athletes | 725 | 693 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $10.3M | $12.0M |
| Athletics revenue | $11.4M | $12.0M |
| Recruiting spend | $119,647 | $167,324 |
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.