Connect

There are many ways to get to know Bates.

Visit us in Maine, meet us closer to home, join us online, or connect directly with the students and people who make up our community.

Come See Us

A tour guide walks backwards through campus while facing three visitors on a campus tour
Campus Visits & Events

Spending time on campus is a great way to get to know Bates. Take a student-led tour, attend an information session, and observe the day-to-day life of students here.

PLan Your Visit
“It’s super exciting to have new Bobcats on campus. I’m kind of the first person in the line of everybody who’s welcoming them today.”.— Admission tour guide Ronan Goulden ’22, an environmental studies major from Lagunitas, Calif., standing outside of Chase Hall, where newly admitted members of the Class of 2023 arrived and departed for a series of events, including an official welcome from President Clayton Spencer.Emily Bowen, other tour guide in headband;Abby Graumann ‘22, holds master class won.
Special Events

Take a closer look at Bates through special visit programs throughout the year, with opportunities to experience academics, campus life, dining, and our community.

Explore Special Events
Moments from “Brunch with Bates” hosted by the Office of Admission in the Olin Arts Center on April 4, 2026. Brunch with Bates is a laid back opportunity for admitted students to tour, eat at Commons, and get a feel for Bates. (Theophil Syslo | Bates College)
Prologue to Bates

Prologue is an all-expenses-paid student access program for students entering their senior year who express interest in being part of our inclusive pluralistic community.

Explore Prologue

Visit Us From Wherever You Are

Public History in the Digital Age Public history takes place beyond history classrooms and academic contexts. Traditionally, it has been found in museums, walking tours, and performances, and has told the stories of people with social and political privilege. Increasingly, however, public history has come to focus on a greater range of voices, and takes place in a wider range of forms: on websites, graphic novels, interactive sensory experiences, social media, and other digital spaces. In this community-engaged course, students learn to see public history "in the wild," engage with primary sources, and present those sources and historical interpretation to the public in digital form. Students with interests in history and public engagement are encouraged to enroll in this course. Students and Associate Professor of Digital and Computational Studies Anelise Shrout meet in Bonney 160 at 8 a.m. on April 8 to review their projects before working on creating a topographical map of Lewiston’s Lisbon Street from 1850-1940. There will be three individuals per decade in Lisbon Street Lisbon buildings. Each student is assigned to research and profile on individual.
Live Virtual Programming

Meet members of the Bates community and ask your important questions through live virtual information sessions, Bobcat Chats, and other online programs.

Explore Virtual Programming
Moments from Bates Beginnings, a event for admitted students and their famlies and supporters hosted by the Office of Admission at Bates College on April 17th, 2026. (Theophil Syslo | Bates College)
Bates Visits You

We might be coming your way. Search by ZIP code or country/region to find upcoming in-person and virtual events with Bates Admission representatives.

Find Bates Near You
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Virtual Tour

We’re bringing Bates to you with our virtual campus tour. Here you can explore 15 campus locations including classrooms, residence halls, athletic facilities, and more.

Take a Virtual Tour

Connect With Bates

Group Photo of Summer Interns '26
Ask a Student

Our students are eager to answer your questions. Meet students from a variety of majors, activities, and hometowns — and reach out directly to hear about Bates from someone living it.

Ask a Student
Director of Admissions Darryl Uy greets incoming freshman Cabot Godoy of Mammoth Lakes, Cali. during Bates’ Opening Day on August 29, 2024.
Meet the Admission Team

Whether you have a specific question or simply want to say hello, our Admission team looks forward to connecting with you.

Meet The Admission Team
ARMCHAIR CONVERSATION President Garry W. Jenkins sat down with Leigh Weisenburger, vice president for enrollment and dean of admission and financial aid, for a conversation in the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall. Asked what has surprised him about Bates in his first few months, Jenkins said that the Bates people he’s met and worked with so far are “more talented, more engaged, and more thoughtful,” than he had suspected. “We have an uncommon depth of care for one another and for the world around us on this campus.”
Alumni Conversations

Connect one-on-one with a Bates graduate and ask the deeper, specific questions that can help you determine whether Bates aligns with your interests and aspirations.

Learn About Alumni Conversations

Resources for School Counselors and CBOs

Bates 2025 Summer Visit Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. At 11 a.m. students joined campus tours, including a walk up the Historic Quad and then a visit to the interior of the Peter J. Gomes Chapel. Others stopped by the college’s Dining Commons for some award-winning cuisine (lunch). At noon in the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall: “Educating the Whole Person: The Bates Academic Experience | Join us for a discussion on academics at Bates, research, and other topics with some of our esteemed faculty leaders. Questions are welcome. Admission Counselor Molly Brown moderated. From left, Professor of French and Francophone Studies Kirk Read; Associate Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Nick Balascio; and Assistant Professor of Politics Seulgie Lim

Find information about Bates, connect with our staff, plan a counselor visit, and access resources for supporting your students.

Counselor resources

Bates College Viewbook

You’ll often hear Bates described as a small liberal arts college.

This is true. With nearly 2,000 students, that’s the small part.

But what does liberal arts really mean at Bates?

Our Bates Viewbook is designed to provide an answer to that question and many more.

See the Viewbook
Moments from Reunion on June 6, 2025. (Theophil Syslo | Bates College)

Let’s Start the Conversation

Receive information from Bates, including invitations to upcoming events, information about our application process, and more.

Request Information
Download our Campus Visit App

Your go-to guide for visiting campus. Explore campus maps, tour routes, dining options, and more.

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Apple App Store Link
Link to Google Play store
Follow Us on Social
Aerial photography taken with a drone of Lewiston, Auburn, Great Falls, and campus by Joshua Turner '20.Credit whenever used: Joshua Sol Turner '20 For info, additional shots, etc., email: jturner4810@gmail.com To see more images: https://www.instagram.com/jturner0/ He has provided BCO with permission to use these images as needed.
Getting to Campus

Bates is located in Lewiston, Maine, just 26 miles from Portland and the Portland International Jetport. Find directions, transportation options, and travel tips.

learn more

Additional Campus Visit Resources

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Campus Map

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Lewiston & Auburn

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Majors & Minors

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Student Profile

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What if I can’t visit?

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FAQs