Bates College
Lewiston, Maine · Private Nonprofit · 13.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 82/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Bates College is a highly selective private nonprofit liberal arts college in Lewiston, Maine, enrolling approximately 1,760 students. It earns an overall ROI score of 82 (Strong Value). For low-income students, the average net price is just $2,397. Completion rates are exceptional at 90%, and 90% of borrowers are making loan repayment progress three years out. Median debt is just $14,275 - unusually low for a private institution of this caliber, reflecting the institution's strong grant-based financial aid model. Six-year average earnings of $46,000 and median ten-year earnings of $69,498 reflect a 29% earnings premium, which is solid for a liberal arts institution and likely understated by the significant share of alumni who pursue graduate or professional degrees. The 7.5-year payback period is competitive for a highly selective private college.
Bates College scores in the top 11% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Bates College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $66,590/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $66,590/yr |
| Average net price | $29,351/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $117,404 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $69,498 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $46,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $14,275 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $151 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 89.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,760 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $66,590/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $29,351/year, or roughly $117,404 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $2,397/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $45,886/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $14,275, which works out to about $151 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($46,000) and comes to 0.31, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $2,397 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,958 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,336 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,468 |
| $110,001+ | $45,886 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
For students from families earning under $30,000, Bates's average net price is $2,397. With $14,275 in median institutional debt and strong alumni networks facilitating career access, low-income students at Bates receive an exceptional value-adjusted credential. Loan burden is minimal and the degree confers significant labor market signaling.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students ($48,001 - $75,000) pay $11,336 in net price. The 7.5-year payback period reflects that even middle-income families get significant grant support.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income students ($110,000-plus) face a net price of $45,886 - approaching full cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Bates College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $110,880 | A |
| International Relations | $80,714 | B+ |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $47,376 | B+ |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $38,437 | B+ |
| Biology | $30,613 | B |
| Sociology | $42,170 | B+ |
| English Language and Literature | $62,082 | - |
| Romance Languages | $40,395 | - |
| Psychology | $65,926 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Economics
Economics is Bates's strongest financial program. Graduates earn $71,187 one year out and $110,880 at four years - the latter reflecting career acceleration in finance, consulting, and business. Against just $13,000 in median debt, the ratio of 0.18 earns an A grade. With 65 annual graduates, this is the institution's largest tracked major and channels strongly into New York and Boston financial services.
International Relations
International Relations graduates earn $41,055 one year out and $80,714 at four years, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28 earning a B+ grade. The 54 graduates annually reflect a robust social sciences pipeline. The four-year earnings trajectory - nearly doubling from year one - suggests significant career progression or graduate school completion improving employment outcomes. This program benefits from Bates's strong alumni network in government, international organizations, and consulting.
Research and Experimental Psychology
Research Psychology graduates earn $47,376 one year out, with median debt of $13,750 yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 that earns a B+ grade. The 50 graduates annually likely include a substantial share pursuing doctoral programs in psychology or neuroscience. Low debt levels make this program financially viable even for students entering lower-paying research roles.
Biology
Biology graduates earn $30,613 one year out - modest numbers reflecting the pre-professional or pre-graduate school stage for many students. Median debt of $12,850 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 earn a B grade. Early earnings are likely understated for a Bates biology graduate; many will complete medical school or PhD programs that substantially elevate lifetime earnings. The low debt profile is the critical financial advantage.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 82.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 90.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 93.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 93.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Bates College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 13.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 710-780 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 710-750 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 31-34 |
| Enrollment | 1,760 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 11.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,886 |
Bates admitted only 13% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 710 - 780 in math and 710 - 750 in reading; ACT composite mid-range is 31 - 34. Bates was an early adopter of test-optional admissions and remains so, meaning the reported score ranges reflect only students who chose to submit. Students should present strong academic records, thoughtful essays, and demonstrated intellectual engagement outside the classroom.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Bates's median debt is $14,275.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bates College (this school) | 82 | $29,351 | $69,498 |
| Bowdoin College | 92 | $14,398 | $82,735 |
| Davidson College | 90 | $17,379 | $81,400 |
| Haverford College | 87 | $25,314 | $79,966 |
| Grinnell College | 83 | $17,648 | $62,830 |
| College of the Atlantic | 25 | $25,184 | $40,264 |
Who Thrives Here
Bates is designed for high-achieving students seeking a rigorous residential liberal arts education with strong connections to graduate school, finance, policy, and non-profit sectors. The 13% admission rate signals highly competitive admissions. Only 12% of students receive Pell Grants - the institution draws a predominantly affluent applicant pool, though it is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated need for admitted students. Students who thrive are intellectually curious, comfortable with ambiguity in career pathways, and willing to invest in graduate education after Bates.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Bates College pays off. You'd pay about $29,351 a year after aid ($117,404 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $69,498 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 7.5 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: its 89.7% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $14,275 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $46,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Bates College: Common Questions
Is Bates College worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Bates College pays off. It scores 82/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $29,351 a year after aid ($117,404 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $69,498 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 7.5 years to earn back.
How much does Bates College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $29,351 a year, or roughly $117,404 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Bates College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $69,498 ten years after enrolling, roughly $27,698 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Bates College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 7.5 years for Bates College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Bates College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $14,275, against average earnings of $46,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Bates College?
The six-year graduation rate is 89.7%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.