Is Bates College or Bowdoin College harder to get into?

Bowdoin College is more selective: Bates College's acceptance rate is approximately 13% and Bowdoin College's is approximately 7% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for Bates College vs Bowdoin College?

The middle-50% SAT range is 1420–1530 at Bates College and 1470–1550 at Bowdoin College. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Bates College vs Bowdoin College: acceptance rate, SAT & cost — QuantAdmit

College comparison

Bates vs Bowdoin

A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.

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Metric	Bates Lewiston, ME	Bowdoin Brunswick, ME
Acceptance rateBowdoin College is more selective	13%	7%
SAT (25–75)	1420–1530	1470–1550
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	1,760	1,873
Avg net price	$29,351	$14,398
Median earnings (10 yr)Bowdoin reports higher median earnings	$69,498	$82,735
Graduation rate	90%	95%
Median debt	$14,275	$18,500
Economic mobility	0.8%	1.1%
Test policy	—	—
Type	Private (nonprofit)	Private (nonprofit)

Quick answers

Is Bates College or Bowdoin College harder to get into?: Bowdoin College is more selective: Bates College's acceptance rate is approximately 13% and Bowdoin College's is approximately 7% (estimates from public and primary sources).
What SAT score do you need for Bates College vs Bowdoin College?: The middle-50% SAT range is 1420–1530 at Bates College and 1470–1550 at Bowdoin College. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.

These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.