Academics
Majors and faculty
The most popular major is Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (12% of graduates). 9 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 84% of colleges. 95% of faculty are full-time. Spends $27,338 a year on instruction per student.
Most popular majors
502 bachelor's degrees, 2024–25 graduates
The top 5 programs account for 52% of graduates; 33 programs in 14 fields awarded at least one.
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 45.060312% 59Graduates in this field earn $110,880 4 years out
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General 26.010111% 57
- Political Science and Government, General 45.100111% 55Graduates in this field earn $80,714 4 years out
- Research and Experimental Psychology, Other 42.279911% 53
- Environmental Studies 03.01037.8% 39
Fastest-growing field: Biology, 12% → 22% of graduates since 2014–15 (111 graduates in 2024–25).
Source:IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2014–15 to 2024–25About the data(built 2026-10-12; CPI retrieved 2026-10-12)
Bachelor's degrees awarded July through June, by federal program name (), which can differ from what the college calls a major. A double major counts once, under the ; its other field is a . Earnings are College Scorecard's median for graduates of the program's broader field (), 4 years after completion; see Top-earning majors below.
Top-earning majors here
By earnings 4 years after completion
Economics$110,880 4 yrs out
1 year after completion: $71,187
4 years after completion$110,880National median: $82,686Above typical4 years out, Pell: Too few graduates to report · Non-Pell: $84,849(an older graduating class than the figure above — see the (i) for why)
Median federal debt: $13,000 · 133 graduates, two most recent years combined
Political Science and Government$80,714 4 yrs out
1 year after completion: $41,055
4 years after completion$80,714National median: $63,293Above typical4 years out, Pell: Too few graduates to report · Non-Pell: $62,714(an older graduating class than the figure above — see the (i) for why)
Median federal debt: $11,532 · 111 graduates, two most recent years combined
Psychology, General$65,926 4 yrs out
1 year after completion: Too few graduates to report
4 years after completion$65,926National median: $50,706Above typicalMedian federal debt: Too few graduates to report
English Language and Literature, General$62,082 4 yrs out
1 year after completion: $40,233
4 years after completion$62,082National median: $48,590Above typicalMedian federal debt: Too few graduates to report · 45 graduates, two most recent years combined
Research and Experimental Psychology$47,376 1 yr out
1 year after completion: $47,376
4 years after completion: Too few graduates to report
Median federal debt: $13,750 · 133 graduates, two most recent years combined
Bachelor's programs only, among graduates who received federal financial aid and were working (not enrolled in school) in the measurement year.
The college also reports 9 to 1 in its Common Data Set (1,736 students, 186 faculty).
Not the average class size: faculty also teach graduate students and do research, and large lectures can sit alongside small seminars.
Programs & curriculum
- Accelerated program
- Cross-registration
- Double major
- Domestic exchange program
- Honors program
- Independent study
- Internships
- Liberal arts/career combination
- Student-designed major
- Teacher certification
- Study abroad
Requires coursework in a natural science.
$106,975
9-month equated, all ranks combined. Pay tracks local cost of living as much as a college's generosity.
Spending and endowment
Fiscal 2023–24. Compared only against other private nonprofit colleges: public and private colleges report finances on different accounting forms that aren't comparable.
Sources:IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard Field of Study data, most recent release;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks), Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures, 2023–24;Bates College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Bates College Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
