Bates College
Lewiston, ME · Private · 1,760 undergrads
- Admit rate: 13.3% (8,937 applicants)
- SAT middle 50%: 1420–1530 (ACT 31–34)
- Undergraduates: 1,760 (9.8% international)
- Average net price: $29,351 (per year after aid)
- Graduation rate: 90% (within 6 years)
Deadlines
- Early Decision: Nov. 15, 2026
- Early Decision II: Jan. 10, 2027
- Regular Decision: Jan. 10, 2027
Editor's notes
- With no supplement, no fee and no test requirement, your Common App essay carries more of the file here than almost anywhere. The CDS rates it very important, alongside grades, recommendations and activities. Write the one piece of writing in your file as if it's the only one, because at Bates it is.
- Bates's AI rules are stricter than most. You can brainstorm with a chatbot, but you can't let it outline, draft, rewrite or translate anything, including your activities descriptions. Write every word yourself and keep your notes.
- Early decision matters here. Slightly more than half the Class of 2030 committed through the two ED rounds, and the CDS rates your level of interest important. If Bates is your clear first choice, ED II on Jan. 10 gives you time to finish first-semester grades and still apply binding.
- Going test-optional is the norm, not the exception. Only about 13% of fall 2025 enrollees sent the SAT and about 8% the ACT. Send scores only if they help; the CDS rates them merely considered.
Sources
- Bates Admission, Apply (application checklist)
- Bates Admission, Application rounds and timeline
- Bates Admission, Optional and required testing
- Bates Admission, Guidelines for using AI in your application to Bates
- Bates Common Data Set 2025-26
- Bates News, Record-breaking applications for the Class of 2030
- Bates News, Bates welcomes the Class of 2030
- Bates Admission, Alumni conversation
- Bates Admission, Ask the (College) Experts video series
