Apply for Financial Aid

Bates offers need-based aid to make your education affordable.

We recognize the challenges families face in managing costs. This is why we offer need-based financial aid to eligible admitted students, and why we meet the full calculated need of our students. We recognize that each family’s circumstances are different, and for that reason, we encourage any family concerned about paying for college to apply for institutional need-based financial aid.

Determining Eligibility

Bates uses the Institutional Methodology guidelines of the College Board to measure family ability to meet college costs and determine eligibility for Bates institutional grant aid. We carefully evaluate family finances, considering factors such as family income and asset strength, family size, the number of siblings enrolled as undergraduate college students, and unusual or emergency expenses that can be documented. Private secondary school expenses for younger siblings are not factored into our evaluation.

Bates meets 100 percent of the calculated need of our enrolled students through a combination of grant aid, student loans, and student employment. Student loans and/or employment assistance may be offered if a student’s calculated need is low.

Application Requirements

We encourage any family concerned about paying for college to apply for need-based financial aid from Bates. To be considered, you must indicate that you will be applying for financial aid on your admission application and provide all of the materials shown below by the applicable deadline. Please note that Bates is committed to meeting 100% of the full demonstrated financial need of every admitted student, regardless of citizenship or immigration status.

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is used by Bates to calculate eligibility for federal financial aid and is required of all applicants requesting Bates or federal financial aid who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States.

How is the FAFSA Used by Bates?

At Bates, the FAFSA is used solely to determine eligibility for federal financial aid (grants, loans and student employment, while the CSS Profile is used to determine eligibility for institutional grant aid.

I’m planning to apply through Early Decision. Should I wait until the FAFSA is available to submit my financial aid application?

No, you should submit the CSS Profile (available October 1) and provide requested tax documentation by the applicable deadline – November 15 for Early Decision 1, and January 10 for Early Decision 2 and Regular Decision. All first-year applicants must complete the FAFSA by January 10.

Will Bates be able to determine my eligibility for financial aid without the FAFSA?

Yes, we will be able to calculate eligibility for institutional need-based aid using the CSS Profile and tax documentation. We will still require the FAFSA to be completed by January 10, but we will use it only to calculate eligibility for federal aid.

Will the changes to the FAFSA impact my eligibility for Bates financial aid? I’ve heard that the FAFSA no longer considers siblings in college.

While the formula used to calculate eligibility for federal aid changed in 2024-25, this has had no impact on the way in which Bates calculates eligibility for need-based institutional aid. Bates continues to recognize sibling undergraduate enrollment when calculating institutional eligibility.

How can I estimate my financial aid eligibility?

Domestic students can use the MyinTuition College Cost Estimator or the Bates Net Price Calculator to estimate costs and see potential financial aid eligibility.

Additional Resources:

Requirements for Domestic Applicants
  • 2025-26 CSS Profile — The CSS Profile must be completed by you and your parents (custodial and noncustodial) if you are requesting institutional financial aid from Bates. You do not need to complete the Profile if you are requesting only federal financial aid. Our Profile school code is 3076.
  • 2023 Federal Income Tax Returns and W-2 Forms — You and your parents (custodial and noncustodial) must submit copies of 2023 tax returns with all schedules and W-2 forms to the College Board’s Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC). If you or your parents did not file a 2023 income tax return, please complete a Non-Tax Filer Statement available on IDOC.
  • Corporations and/or Partnerships: If your parents own an interest in a business corporation, submit a copy of the corporate tax return and/or a copy of IRS Form 1120S, Schedule K-1. If your parents have income from a partnership, submit a copy of the partnership tax return and/or a copy of IRS Form 1165, Schedule K-1. These materials can be submitted through IDOC.
  • 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) — The FAFSA is required of all applicants requesting Bates or federal financial aid who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Our federal school code is 002036.
Requirements for Canadian Citizens
  • 2025-26 CSS Profile — The CSS Profile must be completed by your parents (custodial and noncustodial) if you are requesting institutional financial aid from Bates. Our Profile school code is 3076.
  • 2023 Canadian Income Tax Returns and T4 Forms — You and your parents (custodial and noncustodial) must submit copies of 2023 income tax returns with all schedules and T4 forms to the College Board’s Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC). If you or your parents did not file a 2023 income tax return, please complete a Non-Tax Filer Statement available on IDOC.
Requirements for International Applicants

If you are a non-U.S. citizen* applying for need-based financial aid, you must complete and submit the International Student Application for Financial Assistance (ISAFA) form and upload it to your application status page after you apply. For complete details and instructions, visit https://www.bates.edu/admission/apply/international-students/.

*Note: If you are a Canadian citizen or U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or undocumented applicant applying for need-based financial aid, see details above.

Students who are accepted to Bates will receive information regarding their institutional aid eligibility with their letter of acceptance, if their application is complete.

Students who apply but are not eligible for need-based financial aid at the time of their admission may reapply for financial aid each year.

Please note that the FAFSA is the only application required for students seeking only federal financial aid.

Financial aid at Bates is renewable for up to four years, provided that financial aid application forms are submitted on time, the student’s family continues to demonstrate eligibility according to institutional standards and the student meets prescribed academic progress standards. Families applying for renewal of Bates financial aid must complete the CSS Profile and FAFSA and provide copies of family income tax returns and other materials annually by May 1.

Requirements for Domestic Applicants
  • 2025-26 CSS Profile — The CSS Profile must be completed by you and your parents (custodial and noncustodial) if you are requesting institutional financial aid from Bates. You do not need to complete the Profile if you are requesting only federal financial aid. Our Profile school code is 3076.
  • 2023 Federal Income Tax Returns and W-2 Forms — You and your parents (custodial and noncustodial) must submit copies of 2023 tax returns with all schedules and W-2 forms to the College Board’s Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC). If you or your parents did not file a 2023 income tax return, please complete a Non-Tax Filer Statement available on IDOC.
  • Corporations and/or Partnerships: If your parents own an interest in a business corporation, submit a copy of the corporate tax return and/or a copy of IRS Form 1120S, Schedule K-1. If your parents have income from a partnership, submit a copy of the partnership tax return and/or a copy of IRS Form 1165, Schedule K-1. These materials can be submitted through IDOC.
  • 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) — The FAFSA is required of all applicants requesting Bates or federal financial aid who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Our federal school code is 002036.
Requirements for Canadian Citizens
  • 2025-26 CSS Profile — The CSS Profile must be completed by your parents (custodial and noncustodial) if you are requesting institutional financial aid from Bates. Our Profile school code is 3076.
  • 2023 Canadian Income Tax Returns and T4 Forms — You and your parents (custodial and noncustodial) must submit copies of 2023 income tax returns with all schedules and T4 forms to the College Board’s Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC). If you or your parents did not file a 2023 income tax return, please complete a Non-Tax Filer Statement available on IDOC.
Requirements for Continuing International Students

Continuing students currently receiving need-based financial aid from Bates are eligible for automatic renewal of their aid and will not need to submit an updated application for 2025-26.

Continuing students requesting need-based financial aid for the first time must complete and submit the International Student Application for Financial Assistance (ISAFA) to Student Financial Services by May 1.

Currently enrolled students will receive information regarding their financial aid eligibility in June if their financial aid application is complete.

Students who apply but are not eligible for need-based financial aid at the time of admission may reapply for financial aid each year.

Please note that the FAFSA is the only application required for students seeking only federal financial aid.

Bates meets the full demonstrated financial need for all admitted students, regardless of citizenship status, for all four years. Although Bates is not need-blind for non-U.S. citizens, the college offers one of the most generous and inclusive financial aid programs in the United States.

International students seeking assistance from Bates must indicate their intent to apply for need-based financial aid on the admission application prior to being admitted to Bates. Requests for need-based financial aid after a student has been admitted to Bates will not be considered. 

Students who qualify can receive financial aid for up to eight semesters, in the form of a grant (that does not need to be repaid) and on-campus employment (up to 20 hours per week during the academic year). Bates does not include loans in the aid awards for non-U.S. citizens.

Non-U.S. citizens* requesting financial aid must submit the International Student Application for Financial Assistance (ISAFA) The ISAFA is used by Bates to determine financial need for the four years the student will be at Bates and is part of an applicant’s admission application. Additional information and application instructions can be found here.

*Financial aid information for citizens of Canada can be found here.

Resources for International Students

Bates encourages students to seek assistance through sponsors and outside sources. In many countries, it is often possible to find information at U.S. Information Service (USIS) posts or at educational advising centers designated by the U.S. Embassy.

Information for Divorced/Separated Parents

When parents are divorced or separated, a contribution from the student’s noncustodial parent is included as part of the calculated family contribution. The noncustodial parent’s ability to contribute is measured in the same manner as the custodial parent’s, according to income and asset strength. A parent’s willingness (or unwillingness) to contribute toward educational costs is not a factor in our determination of financial aid eligibility, nor is eligibility affected by payment agreements that exist between the custodial and noncustodial parent.

Noncustodial parents must complete the CSS PROFILE and submit copies of federal income tax returns and W-2 forms to the College Board’s Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC).

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