Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Hamilton's yield is 6 pts higher than Bates's
Yield rate - 2
Hamilton's SAT midpoint is 25 points higher than Bates's
SAT midpoint - 3
Hamilton admits 14% vs. 15% at Bates
Acceptance rate
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- HamiltonHighly selective
- BatesHighly selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1300–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 27–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- HamiltonTest-optional
- BatesTest-optional
How they read a record
Hamilton
The high school record and a college-prep program are required; GPA and class rank are considered.
Bates
, GPA, and class rank are all very important; tests are considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Hamilton | Bates |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Considered | Very important |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Considered | Very important |
| College-prep program | Required | Considered |
| Recommendations | Required | Very important |
| Essay | Required | Very important |
| Legacy status | Considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Not considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Considered | Not considered |
Sources:Hamilton College (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;College Scorecard, most recent release;Bates College (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;Bates College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Bates College Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why