Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Bates's yield is 21 pts higher than Reed's
Yield rate - 2
Bates is 1.7× more selective than Reed
Acceptance rate - 3
Bates's SAT midpoint is 70 points higher than Reed's
SAT midpoint
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- ReedVery 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 1200–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 26–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- ReedTest-optional
- BatesTest-optional
How they read a record
Reed
is very important; class rank is important. 81% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight.
Bates
, GPA, and class rank are all very important; tests are considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Reed | Bates |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Required | Very important |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Important | Very important |
| College-prep program | Required | Considered |
| Recommendations | Important | Very important |
| Essay | Very important | Very important |
| Legacy status | Considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources: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