Bates vs. MHC

Should I go to Bates College or Mount Holyoke College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bates or MHC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Bowdoin College Smith College Bryn Mawr Colby College Wellesley Wesleyan University Brandeis University Barnard BU Oberlin Middlebury Hamilton College
Bates College vs. Mount Holyoke College comparison
Bates College Mount Holyoke College College 3 College 4
Bates College Mount Holyoke College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Bates MHC
Location Lewiston, ME South Hadley, MA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,790 2,392
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #43 #85
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bates.edu mtholyoke.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Bates MHC
Tuition (In State) $61,066 $58,280
Tuition (Out of State) $61,066 $58,280
Room & Board $17,224 $17,180
Avg Net Price $27,491 $35,765
Avg Grant Aid $51,414 $39,304
% Receiving Grant Aid 36% 80%

Admission

 Bates MHC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,273 4,894
Admitted 1,137 1,946
Acceptance Rate 13.7% 39.8%
Enrolled % 45.6% 28%
Avg High School GPA - 3.87
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 32/33 30/34
SAT Range 1420/1520 1350/1540
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

 Bates MHC
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)

Outcomes

 Bates MHC
Graduation Rate 92% 85%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,700 $50,000
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,450 $21,206
Median Loan Payment $149 $219

Diversity

 Bates MHC
% Men 47% 1%
% Women 53% 99%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 71% 45%
% Black 5% 6%
% Hispanic 8% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 7% 26%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

 Bates MHC
% In-State 9% 16%
% Out-of-State 81% 60%

Campus

 Bates MHC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Mount Holyoke College is larger than than Bates based on total student enrollment (2,392 students vs. 1,790 students)

Bates vs. MHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bates or MHC?

  • Bates College is 4.8% more expensive to attend than MHC for in-state tuition ($61,066.00 vs. $58,280.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.8% higher at Bates than Mount Holyoke College ($61,066.00 vs. $58,280.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bates College than MHC ($27,491 vs. $35,765)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Holyoke College are 0.3% lower than costs at Bates College ($17,180 vs. $17,224)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than Bates College (80% vs. 36%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bates College students is 30.8% larger than aid received Mount Holyoke College ($51,414 vs. $39,304)

Bates vs. MHC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bates or MHC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MHC or Bates .

  • MHC has a higher acceptance rate (39.8%) than Bates (13.7%)

Bates vs. MHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bates or MHC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between MHC and Bates.

  • The graduation rate at Bates is higher than Mount Holyoke College (92% vs. 85%)
  • Graduates from Bates College earn on average $25,700 more per year than MHC graduates after ten years. ($75,700 vs. $50,000)
  • Bates College students graduate with a $6,756 lower median federal student loan debt than MHC graduates. ($14,450 vs. $21,206)
  • Bates graduates are paying $70 less per month on federal student loans than MHC graduates. ($149 vs. $219)
  • More Bates graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 77%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/