Is Bates test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1440 and hold it if it's under.

What is Bates's acceptance rate?

13% of applicants were admitted in 2025–26, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 1,336 of 10,027 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 77%, from 5,651 in 2015 to 10,027 in 2024, and Bates's admit rate went from 22% to 13%.

What ACT score do you need for Bates?

8% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 31–34, with a median of 32. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1325–1510 works out to about 28–34.

Why might Bates's SAT range look high?

Only 13% of enrolled students sent an SAT. The range counts only those who did, and students with lower scores tend to hold theirs back.

Does applying early decision help at Bates?

34% of early decision applicants were admitted (318 of 949), against 13% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at Bates?

39 of the 795 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 4.9%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Bates? (Middle 50%: 1325–1510)

First-year students at Bates who sent an SAT scored 1325–1510, with a median of 1440 (Common Data Set 2025–26). Bates admits 13% of applicants and is test optional.

Bates College · Lewiston, ME

Where your score lands at Bates

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1325–1510, median 1440

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Bates is for you and whether to send your score.

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Bates by the numbers

Admit rate: 13%
Middle 50% SAT: 1325–1510
Median SAT: 1440
About on the ACT: 28–34
Sent an SAT: 13%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Bates admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2025–26; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Bates admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 77%, from 5,651 in 2015 to 10,027 in 2024, and Bates's admit rate went from 22% to 13%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	10,027	1,336	13%
2023	8,937	1,164	13%
2022	8,273	1,137	14%
2021	7,319	1,267	17%
2020	7,696	1,085	14%
2019	8,222	998	12%
2018	7,685	1,367	18%
2017	5,316	1,166	22%
2016	5,356	1,213	23%
2015	5,651	1,231	22%

In fall 2024, 488 of the 1,336 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Bates

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1280Far reachHold
1280–1430ReachHold
1440 and upReachSend

110012001300140015001600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Bates SAT sections and ACT

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	622.5	715	767.5
SAT Reading and Writing	672.5	710	750
SAT total	1325	1440	1510
ACT composite	31	32	34

Of enrolled first-year students, 13% sent an SAT and 8% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2025–26.

Bates early decision and waitlist

Early decision

318 of 949 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision34%
All applicants13%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

2,103 applicants were offered a spot, 795 took it, and 39 were admitted from it.

4.9%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2025–26.

Bates cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $29,351; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 90%
Median earnings: $69,498; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 1,917

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Bates

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

More colleges in Maine

Every college for an SAT of1330 1440 1510

Sources

Bates Common Data Set 2025–26
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Bates admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Bates website
Bates College

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1325–1510, and the median was 1440. At 1440 or higher you're above half of them. Bates admits 13% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$