Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Bates College #564 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $70,028, placing Bates College in the 72.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Bates College #456 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Bates College #564 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Lewiston, Maine, Bates College enrolls roughly 1,760 undergraduates. Retention is 91.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 89.7%, placing the institution among the strongest nationally for converting enrollment into degree completion. Where Bates College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Bates College #210 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $70,028, demonstrating solid long-term financial outcomes for a liberal arts college. The institution's program mix centers on Social Sciences, which aligns with strong career outcomes and sustained earnings growth over time. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Bates College sits in the 33.5 percentile for access and the 22.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 11.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 15.1% are first-generation college students. Mobility outcomes rank in the 61.5 percentile, reflecting the institution's ability to support students from diverse backgrounds into stable career pathways. For admitted students, Bates College commits to meeting demonstrated financial need through need-based aid, though the sticker price and net cost remain material considerations for many families.
Bates College's published cost of attendance is $83,532. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $2,397, families in the lower-middle range pay around $8,958, middle-income families pay about $11,336, families in the upper-middle range pay approximately $19,468, and higher-income families pay around $45,886. Azimuth ranks Bates College #1108 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated need, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Bates College meets demonstrated financial need in full for admitted students under its current financial aid policy. The aid structure combines need-based grants, work-study, and loans as part of the aid package. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine eligibility for need-based aid. The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to making enrollment affordable across income levels, though families should verify their individual aid award once admitted. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $14,275, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $70,222; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $70,028, median federal debt of $14,275 projects to a monthly payment of about $161 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Bates College is a strong fit for students drawn to the social sciences and liberal arts who want a private liberal arts college experience in Lewiston, ME. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $70,028, placing Bates College in the 72.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Bates College #210 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 11.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 15.1% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $45,886, and aid packages can meaningfully reduce the net price for qualifying families. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 13.3% admit rate makes the application process competitive, and the program mix favors liberal arts fields over applied-professional ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a strong earnings trajectory and aid package among nonprofit four-year institutions.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Bates College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Bates College's published cost of attendance is $83,532. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $2,397, families in the lower-middle range pay around $8,958, middle-income families pay about $11,336, families in the upper-middle range pay approximately $19,468, and higher-income families pay around $45,886.
Azimuth ranks Bates College #1108 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated need, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Bates College meets demonstrated financial need in full for admitted students under its current financial aid policy. The aid structure combines need-based grants, work-study, and loans as part of the aid package.
Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine eligibility for need-based aid. The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to making enrollment affordable across income levels, though families should verify their individual aid award once admitted.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $14,275, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $70,222; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $70,028, median federal debt of $14,275 projects to a monthly payment of about $161 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Bates College earn median 4-year earnings of $70,028, placing Bates College in the 72.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Bates College #210 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
That performance reflects both the institution's liberal arts foundation and its ability to position graduates into stable, well-compensated career pathways across multiple fields. The earnings pattern spans the social sciences and humanities.
Economics is the largest program by aggregate return, combining substantial enrollment with solid mid-career pay. The Research Psychology program graduates 83 students annually and anchors the institution's degree output.
The Economics program graduates 68 students with median 4-year earnings of $110,880, earning 1.3x the national benchmark for the field. The Political Science program graduates 57 students with median 4-year earnings of $80,714, at 1.3x the benchmark.
Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Biology, General round out the top five by enrollment, each supporting graduates into careers aligned with liberal arts preparation and regional labor-market demand in ME.
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of New Hampshire-Main Campus Higher acceptance rate (73.9 percentage points higher) and located 76 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NH | 87% | $66,479 | Compare |
Hobart William Smith Colleges Higher acceptance rate (44.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 57% | $68,831 | Compare |
University At Albany Higher acceptance rate (56.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 70% | $67,979 | Compare |
Bowdoin College Same state (18 miles away) (earnings difference: 19%) and similar program focus; same institution type | ME | 8% | $82,735 | Compare |
Colby College Same state (41 miles away) (earnings difference: 15.8%) and similar program focus; same institution type | ME | 7% | $80,490 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacksonville University Similar quality tier (#15693 ranked) | FL | 57% | $68,010 | #15693 | Compare |
Rose-Hulman Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#15682 ranked) | IN | 77% | $101,253 | #15682 | Compare |
Carleton College Similar quality tier (#15712 ranked) | MN | 20% | $75,525 | #15712 | Compare |
Simmons University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15715 ranked) | MA | 70% | $63,494 | #15715 | Compare |
College Of Our Lady Of The Elms Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15672 ranked) | MA | 85% | $51,540 | #15672 | Compare |
Economics
68 graduates
Political Science and Government
57 graduates
English Language and Literature, General
20 graduates
History
26 graduates
Research and Experimental Psychology
83 graduates
Bates College's program mix is anchored in the social sciences and humanities — a signature aligned with the institution's liberal arts identity. Research Psychology is the largest program with 83 graduates, followed by Economics with 68 graduates earning median earnings of $110,880, Political Science with 57 graduates earning $80,714, Natural Resources Conservation and Research with 40 graduates, and Biology, General with 37 graduates.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 590 students annually, several programs deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes. The highest-earning programs at Bates College reflect the institution's strength in analytical and professional fields within the social sciences.
Economics leads with graduates earning median earnings of $110,880 four years after enrollment, followed by Political Science with 57 graduates earning $80,714, and English Language and Literature, General with 20 graduates earning $62,082. These outcomes reflect the liberal arts advantage: students develop analytical and communication skills across disciplines, positioning them for sustained earnings growth in professional and graduate-school-dependent pathways.
The program portfolio is distributed across Social Sciences at 27%, other STEM fields at 7%, and Arts at 7%, with additional strength in humanities and natural sciences. Many Bates College graduates pursue graduate and professional school — law, medicine, business, and doctoral programs — where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with labor-market demand and graduate-pathway outcomes.
