Is Bates or Hamilton harder to get into?

Bates is harder to get into than Hamilton. Bates's 13.3% acceptance rate is lower than Hamilton's 13.6%.

Which is cheaper, Bates or Hamilton?

Hamilton costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Hamilton's average net price is $28,985 vs $29,351 at Bates.

Which has higher post-graduation earnings, Bates or Hamilton?

Hamilton graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $69,498 at Bates and $78,411 at Hamilton.

Bates vs. Hamilton: Acceptance Rate, SAT, Cost & Outcomes Compared

Metric	Bates	Hamilton
Acceptance rate	13.3%	13.6%
SAT mid-50%	1420–1530	1450–1550
ACT mid-50%	31–34	33–35
Cost of attendance	$83,532	$84,230
Avg net price (after aid)	$29,351	$28,985
Undergrad enrollment	1,760	2,030
6-yr graduation rate	89.7%	90.6%
Median earnings (10yr)	$69,498	$78,411
Setting	Lewiston, Maine	Clinton, New York

The Real Differences

Selectivity is essentially the same. Bates's 13.3% acceptance rate and Hamilton's 13.6% are within a percentage point of each other. For an unhooked applicant, the difference is statistical noise. Apply to whichever you genuinely prefer.

Net cost is essentially the same at both schools after grants and scholarships, despite different sticker prices. Both schools meet most demonstrated need for in-range income brackets.

Hamilton graduates earn $8,913 more on average at the 10-year mark. This usually reflects major distribution more than school quality — schools that concentrate in CS, engineering, and finance pull higher medians than schools with more humanities and social science graduates. Bates grads' earnings within the same major category are typically comparable.

Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Bates is in Lewiston, Maine; Hamilton is in Clinton, New York. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.

Student Body Composition

The two schools have different student body compositions. Bates is 51.8% women, 9.8% international, and 6.6% Asian-American. Hamilton is 55.6% women, 8.2% international, and 9.0% Asian-American.

Demographic	Bates	Hamilton
Women	51.8%	55.6%
International	9.8%	8.2%
White	60.2%	62.2%
Asian	6.6%	9.0%
Hispanic	9.7%	9.7%
Black	4.5%	3.1%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at Bates vs. Hamilton?

Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.

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The Verdict

Pick Bates if

its Short Term May program

Pick Hamilton if

Your odds are realistic at Hamilton (slightly easier admit)
Net price matters: Hamilton costs $366 less per year on average
Higher median post-grad earnings ($78,411 vs $69,498)
Higher 6-year graduation rate
its open curriculum

Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.

Full School Pages

For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:

Full profile

Bates College

13.3% accept · Lewiston, Maine

Full profile

Hamilton College

13.6% accept · Clinton, New York

Sources

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.

Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.

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Bates College vs. Hamilton College