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Academics

Bates College
Academics

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How strong are the academics at Bates College?

Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.

10:1
Student to faculty ratio

Class Sizes

Class sizes likely stayed the same for you through high school. You'll find that college is much different. Some of the largest universities have classes that can seat hundreds of students in giant lecture halls. Conversely, as they progress and their focus narrows, higher-level courses can sometimes have just a handful of students.

Bates has an average student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.

Honors Programs

Bates College has an honors program and/or honors college. Specifics of these programs vary, but benefits of being in an Honors Program might include priority registration, being part of a tight-knit community, and accessing unique learning opportunities.

Learn more about honors options on Bates' website.

Outcomes

It’s critical to understand a school’s outcomes to understand if your four (or more) years at the school will be worth it. Here are some key statistics about the outcomes of students who enroll at Bates College:

94%
First-year retention rate
91%
6-year grad rate

Majors

Many students choose a school largely based on the what they want to study. The are Bates College's most popular majors, ranked by how many people graduated with the concentration in the most recent year:

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
Environmental Studies
Political Science and Government, General
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
33.4
38.92
44.44
49.96
55.48
61

The Full List

Major Graduates
Area
  • African-American/Black Studies 3
  • American/United States Studies/Civilization 3
  • Women's Studies 2
  • Latin American Studies 1
  • European Studies/Civilization 1
  • East Asian Studies 1
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 38
  • Biochemistry 25
  • Neuroscience 16
Engineering
  • Engineering, General 0
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • English Language and Literature, General 20
  • Rhetoric and Composition 9
Foreign Languages
  • French Language and Literature 5
  • Spanish Language and Literature 3
  • Japanese Language and Literature 1
  • Chinese Language and Literature 0
  • German Language and Literature 0
History
  • History, General 10
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Mathematics, General 19
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Ancient Studies/Civilization 3
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 2
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Environmental Studies 46
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Religion/Religious Studies 9
  • Philosophy 5
Physical Sciences
  • Physics, General 13
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 6
  • Chemistry, General 6
Psychology
  • Research and Experimental Psychology, Other 42
Social Sciences
  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 61
  • Political Science and Government, General 45
  • Sociology, General 24
  • Anthropology, General 7
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Art/Art Studies, General 9
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 2
  • Dance, General 1
  • Music, General 1

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