Head-to-head comparison
Bates College vs. Haverford College
Real published data on acceptance rates, cost, and outcomes. Side by side.
Calculate your odds at bothIs Bates or Haverford harder to get into?
Haverford is harder to get into than Bates. Haverford's 12.4% acceptance rate is lower than Bates's 13.3%.
Which is cheaper, Bates or Haverford?
Haverford costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Haverford's average net price is $25,314 vs $29,351 at Bates.
Which has higher post-graduation earnings?
Haverford graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $69,498 at Bates and $79,966 at Haverford.
Full Comparison
| Metric | Bates | Haverford |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 13.3% | 12.4% |
| SAT mid-50% | 1420–1530 | 1460–1550 |
| ACT mid-50% | 31–34 | 33–35 |
| Cost of attendance | $83,532 | $90,382 |
| Avg net price (after aid) | $29,351 | $25,314 |
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,760 | 1,430 |
| 6-yr graduation rate | 89.7% | 89.6% |
| Median earnings (10yr) | $69,498 | $79,966 |
| Setting | Lewiston, Maine | Haverford, Pennsylvania |
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (IPEDS) and school-published admit cycle data. Last verified May 2026.
The Real Differences
Selectivity is essentially the same. Bates's 13.3% acceptance rate and Haverford's 12.4% are within a percentage point of each other. For an unhooked applicant, the difference is statistical noise. Apply to whichever you genuinely prefer.
Haverford graduates earn $10,468 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; Haverford is in Haverford, Pennsylvania. 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. Haverford is 56.9% women, 10.9% international, and 12.9% Asian-American.
| Demographic | Bates | Haverford |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 51.8% | 56.9% |
| International | 9.8% | 10.9% |
| White | 60.2% | 49.2% |
| Asian | 6.6% | 12.9% |
| Hispanic | 9.7% | 11.5% |
| Black | 4.5% | 4.4% |
Personalized estimate
What are your odds at Bates vs. Haverford?
Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.
Run the calculatorThe Verdict
Pick Bates if
- Your odds are realistic at Bates (slightly easier admit)
- Higher 6-year graduation rate
- its Short Term May program
Pick Haverford if
- Net price matters: Haverford costs $4,037 less per year on average
- Higher median post-grad earnings ($79,966 vs $69,498)
- its student-run Honor Code
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
Haverford College
12.4% accept · Haverford, Pennsylvania
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.