Lewiston, Maine — USA
Bates College
Meets 100% of demonstrated need for international freshmen AND transfers with all-grant, loan-free packages — $0 to apply, no English test strictly required, and uniquely no CSS Profile (you use the free BISAFA instead). Need-aware, so a full ride makes admission more competitive.
Last updated July 2026. Always confirm details on the school's official page before applying.
Bates College in Lewiston, Maine offers full need-based financial aid — up to 100% of demonstrated need — to international students, and meets 100% of demonstrated need for every admitted undergraduate. Awards are made entirely of grants with zero loans, so there is nothing to pay back. There are no academic merit or athletic scholarships; every dollar of aid is based on your family's demonstrated need. What makes Bates genuinely distinctive is the financial aid paperwork: it does NOT require the CSS Profile. Instead you apply for aid completely free using the BISAFA (Bates International Student Application for Financial Aid), which appears in your Bates applicant portal right after you submit your admission application. The one catch is that admissions is need-aware for international applicants — requesting a full ride makes an already competitive process significantly harder, so the rest of your application must be exceptional.
At a glance
- SAT Required
- No — Bates is permanently test-optional. SAT/ACT scores are not required, and your application gets the same holistic review with or without them.
- English Proficiency Required
- No official exam strictly required. English proficiency scores (TOEFL/IELTS) are recommended — not required — if English isn't your native language or you haven't spent your entire high school at an English-medium institution.
- Apply With CSS Profile
- No — uniquely, Bates does NOT require the CSS Profile for international students. You apply for aid completely free using the BISAFA instead.
- CSS Fee Waiver
- Not applicable — since no CSS Profile is used, there is no CSS fee to waive. The BISAFA is entirely free.
- CSS Waiver Type
- There is no CSS Profile at Bates. Instead, complete the free BISAFA (Bates International Student Application for Financial Aid), which becomes available in your Bates applicant portal right after you submit your admission application.
- Acceptance Rate (Freshman)
- ~12–13%
- Application Fee (Freshman)
- $0 — there is no application fee for any undergraduate applicant.
- Transfer Students
- Yes — Bates extends its 100% met-need, loan-free policy to international transfers. Check the intent-to-apply-for-aid box on the transfer application. Full-ride transfer admission is incredibly competitive due to restricted transfer budgets.
- Acceptance Rate (Transfer)
- ~6–10%
- Application Fee (Transfer)
- $0 — no transfer application fee.
What “full scholarship” means here
This school guarantees it will meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need. In simple English: if you get accepted and you've applied for financial aid and you don't have any money to attend, they can give you a full scholarship to cover your cost of attendance. Both conditions matter — and the CSS Profile is how you prove your need.
Bates Need-Based Financial Aid (100% demonstrated need)
Need-based · Bachelor's
What it covers
- Up to 100% of your demonstrated financial need
- All-grant packages with zero loans — nothing to repay
Who qualifies
All admitted undergraduates who apply for financial aid, including international freshmen and transfer students. Bates meets 100% of demonstrated need with grants only — there are no academic merit or athletic scholarships. Admissions is need-aware for international applicants, so requesting a full ride makes admission significantly more competitive; the rest of your application must be exceptional.
Key deadlines
How to apply
- 1Apply through the Common Application or Coalition Application — there is no application fee ($0) for any undergraduate applicant.
- 2Submit your official high school transcripts, the School Report and counselor recommendation, and one teacher letter of recommendation.
- 3Include English proficiency scores (TOEFL/IELTS) if applicable — recommended, not required.
- 4After you submit your admission application, complete the free BISAFA (Bates International Student Application for Financial Aid) in your Bates applicant portal. Bates does NOT require the CSS Profile.
Good to know
- No CSS Profile needed — this is unusual among meet-full-need colleges. You apply for aid completely free using the BISAFA, which appears in your Bates applicant portal right after you submit your admission application. Because no CSS is used, there are no CSS fee waivers to chase.
- All aid is need-based — there are no academic merit or athletic scholarships. Every package is all-grant and loan-free, so don't go hunting for a separate scholarship application.
- Bates is need-aware for international applicants: requesting a full ride makes admission significantly more competitive, so the rest of your application must stand out.
- If your high school taught in English (or English is your native language), you can skip the proficiency test entirely — TOEFL/IELTS is recommended, not strictly required.
- Transfers: Bates extends the same 100% met-need, loan-free policy to international transfers. Check the intent-to-apply-for-aid box on the transfer application. Full-ride transfer admission (~6–10% acceptance) is incredibly competitive because transfer budgets are restricted. Transfer checklist: Common App for Transfer, all college transcripts, a final high school transcript with graduation date, a Transfer College Report, two academic recommendations (preferably from college professors), and the free BISAFA. Transfer application fee is $0.
Frequently asked questions
Does Bates College give full scholarships to international students?
Yes. Bates meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted international students — including freshmen and transfers — with all-grant packages and zero loans. If you get accepted, apply for aid, and your family can't pay, your full calculated need is covered. All aid is need-based; there are no academic merit or athletic scholarships.
Is Bates College need-blind for international students?
No — Bates is need-aware for international applicants. The admissions committee considers how much aid you're requesting, so asking for a full ride makes an already competitive process significantly harder. Once you're admitted, however, Bates meets 100% of your demonstrated need with loan-free grants.
Does Bates College require the CSS Profile for international students?
No — and this is what makes Bates distinctive. Bates does NOT require the CSS Profile. Instead, you apply for financial aid completely free using the BISAFA (Bates International Student Application for Financial Aid), which becomes available in your Bates applicant portal right after you submit your admission application. Because no CSS Profile is used, there are no CSS fee waivers to worry about.
Does Bates College require the SAT for international students?
No. Bates is permanently test-optional — SAT and ACT scores are not required, and your application receives the same holistic review with or without them.
Does Bates College require an English proficiency exam for international students?
Not strictly. Bates does not require TOEFL or IELTS. Proficiency scores are recommended — not required — if English isn't your native language or you haven't spent your entire high school at an English-medium institution.
Is there an application fee for international students at Bates College?
No — there is no application fee ($0) for any undergraduate applicant, freshman or transfer.
What is Bates College's acceptance rate?
Roughly 12–13% overall for freshman applicants. Transfer admission is more selective at approximately 6–10%, because transfer budgets are restricted.
Does Bates College accept international transfer students with full funding?
Yes. Bates extends its 100% met-need, loan-free policy to international transfers — you just need to check the intent-to-apply-for-aid box on the transfer application. Full-ride transfer admission is incredibly competitive (~6–10% acceptance) because transfer budgets are restricted. You'll need the Common App for Transfer, all college transcripts, a final high school transcript with graduation date, a Transfer College Report, two academic recommendations (preferably from college professors), and the free BISAFA. The transfer application fee is $0.
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