Bates vs. Williams

Bates College and Williams College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Bates College
Williams College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Williams (8.3% admitted vs 13.3%). Typical SAT 1530 vs 1480.
  • Cheaper after aid: Williams. Average net price is $15,894 vs $24,723 at Bates.
  • Graduation: Bates 92% vs Williams 95%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Bates $75,700 vs Williams $73,600 (median).
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Key differences

Bates College Williams College
Acceptance rate
Williams more selective
Bates13.3%
Williams8.3%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Williams higher
Bates1420-1530
Williams1490-1570
Average net price
Williams $8,829 less
Bates$24,723
Williams$15,894
In-state tuition
Bates $1,970 less
Bates$66,590
Williams$68,560
Out-of-state tuition
Bates $1,970 less
Bates$66,590
Williams$68,560
Graduation rate
Williams +3 pts
Bates92%
Williams95%
Median earnings (10 years)
Bates +$2,100
Bates$75,700
Williams$73,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Bates 10,027
  • Williams 15,411
  • Admitted
  • Bates 1,336
  • Williams 1,272
  • Acceptance rate
  • Bates 13.3%
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Bates 36.5%
  • Williams 43%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bates 1480
  • Williams 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bates 32
  • Williams 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Bates -
  • Williams 3.94
  • Typical high school grades
  • Bates -
  • Williams A
  • Admissions standards
  • Bates Exceptional
  • Williams Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Bates Very High
  • Williams Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Bates 1420-1530
  • Williams 1490-1570
  • ACT range
  • Bates 31-34
  • Williams 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Bates Test optional
  • Williams Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Bates Jan 1, 2027
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Bates $66,590
  • Williams $68,560
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Bates $66,590
  • Williams $68,560
  • Room & board
  • Bates $18,780
  • Williams $17,260
  • Average net price
  • Bates $24,723
  • Williams $15,894
  • Average grant aid
  • Bates $58,809
  • Williams $68,966
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Bates 40%
  • Williams 54%
  • Graduation rate
  • Bates 92%
  • Williams 95%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Bates $75,700
  • Williams $73,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • Bates 90%
  • Williams 83%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Bates $14,450
  • Williams $14,582
  • Median loan payment
  • Bates $149
  • Williams $150
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Bates 9:1
  • Williams 6:1
  • Popular majors
  • Bates
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Location
  • Bates Lewiston, ME
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Setting
  • Bates Small City
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Bates 1,760
  • Williams 2,164
  • Type
  • Bates Private 4 Year
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Bates #41
  • Williams #14

Comparable Facts

Compare Bates College in Lewiston, ME with Williams College in Williamstown, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Williams College is larger than Bates based on total student enrollment (2,164 students vs. 1,760 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bates College is located in Lewiston, ME (Small City setting); Williams College is in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting).
  • Bates College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bates College 9:1; Williams College 6:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 8.1% lower than at Bates College ($17,260 vs. $18,780).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3% higher at Williams than at Bates College (about $1,970 more per year; $68,560 vs. $66,590).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Williams College than at Bates College (54% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 17.3% larger than aid received by Bates College students ($68,966 vs. $58,809).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Williams than at Bates (34 vs. 32, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Bates and Williams.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bates Jan 1, 2027; Williams Jan 10, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.5% at Bates vs. 43% at Williams.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bates College graduates have a $132 lower median loan debt than Williams graduates ($14,450 vs. $14,582).
  • Among borrowers, Bates graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Williams graduates ($149 vs. $150).
  • More Bates graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Williams students, three years after graduation (90% vs. 83%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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