Bates College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Bates College charges a net price of $29,351/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $117,404. Graduates earn a median $69,498 ten years after entry, $21,138/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 5.6 years — a 20-year net return of $305,356, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Bates College's 5.6-year payback ranks #482 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 62% of them, and #5 of 27 in Maine.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $29,351/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $117,404 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $69,498 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $21,138/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $14,275 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $305,356 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Bates College's own numbers. Net price $29,351 × 4 years = $117,404 total. Median earnings $69,498 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $21,138 a year of premium. $117,404 ÷ $21,138 = 5.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $305,356. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Bates College students graduate with?
A median $14,275 in federal loans among completers, or 21% of the $69,498 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Bates College students graduate?
90% finish their degree. Spread the $117,404 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $130,449 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Bates College expensive compared with other Maine colleges?
Its $29,351 net price runs $12,171 above the $17,180 median across the 27 Maine colleges we profile, or $48,684 more across the full degree.