Bates College vs Colby College

Colby College is the more selective of the two at 10%, versus 14% at Bates College. Here is how they compare on selectivity, test scores, and what they weigh, plus a free way to estimate your odds at each.

Bates College
Highly selective
14%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1470
Private · Maine
Colby College
Most selective
10%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1500
Private · Maine

Bates College vs Colby College: the differences that matter

How Bates College and Colby College stack up on selectivity, scores, and what they value.

Colby College is meaningfully harder to get into, admitting about 10% of applicants versus 14% at Bates College, a gap of roughly 4 percentage points. Treat Colby College as the bigger reach of the two when you build your list.

The two also read applications a little differently. Bates College leans more on state residency, volunteer work, level of applicant interest, while Colby College puts more weight on standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, talent / ability. The same profile can land differently at each, which is why a per-school estimate matters more than a single GPA.

On test scores, Bates College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1470 and Colby College's is around 1500. Admitted students at Colby College post somewhat higher scores. Run your own numbers below to see where you stand at each.

What each school weighs

Factors either school weighs heavily, side by side.

FactorBates CollegeColby College
Rigor of secondary school recordvery importantvery important
Academic GPAvery importantvery important
Standardized test scoresconsideredimportant
Application essayvery importantvery important
Recommendationsvery importantvery important
Extracurricular activitiesimportantvery important
Talent / abilityimportantvery important
Character / personal qualitiesvery importantvery important
Calculate your chances at both →

Frequently asked questions

Is Bates College or Colby College harder to get into?

Colby College is harder to get into, with a 10% acceptance rate versus 14% at Bates College.

What's the difference in SAT scores between Bates College and Colby College?

Bates College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1470, and Colby College's is around 1500.

What are my chances at Bates College and Colby College?

That depends on your full profile. CollegeCalcAI gives a free, personalized estimate for each school in a few minutes.