Bates College vs Ursinus College
Bates College and Ursinus College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Bates, located in Lewiston, Maine, boasts a lower acceptance rate (13%) compared to Ursinus' (65%) in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. While Bates students predominantly pursue majors in the social sciences, humanities, and biological sciences, Ursinus students often gravitate towards business, social sciences, and biological sciences. Bates' student body is slightly larger, with an undergraduate enrollment of 1,800 compared to Ursinus' 1,500. Both colleges boast impressive graduation rates, with Bates at 89% and Ursinus at 86%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these colleges' academics, campus life, and financial aid options to determine which one aligns best with your aspirations.
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![]() Bates College |
![]() Ursinus College |
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Overview |
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Location | Lewiston, Maine | Collegeville, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 92.0% | 85.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 17.3% | 82.7% |
Application fees | $60 | |
SAT range | N/A | 1200 - 1360 |
ACT range | N/A | 27 - 32 |
Students submitting SAT score | 34.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 9.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 7,319 | 3,818 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,267 | 3,158 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 553 | 433 |
Yield rate | 43.6% | 13.7% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $77,870 | $73,982 |
Average net price | $26,231 | $31,438 |
Tuition | $59,062 | $56,600 |
Room & board | $16,658 |
Room/dormitory:
$9,230
Meal plan:
$4,830
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
36.0%
Average amount $50,509 |
100.0%
Average amount $39,622 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
12.0%
Average amount $4,182 |
69.0%
Average amount $5,630 |
Students taking out private loans |
3.0%
Average amount $23,825 |
16.0%
Average amount $18,143 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,821
Men 48.6% Women 51.4% |
1,556
Men 52.2% Women 47.8% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 42.4% |
International students | 8.7% | 0.9% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,816 | 1,510 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Pennsylvania New Jersey Maryland New York Connecticut |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 91.7% | 72.5% |
Dropout rate | 2.3% | 27.3% |
Transferred out | 5.8% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
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