Bates College is a highly selective private liberal arts college in Lewiston, Maine, founded in 1855. Enrolling approximately 1,800 students, Bates was one of the first coeducational and racially integrated colleges in the United States, and its commitment to access and inclusion has shaped its identity ever since. Bates is a member of the Little Three athletic and academic rivalry (with Bowdoin and Colby) and consistently ranks among the top liberal arts colleges nationally. The college's 109-acre campus blends traditional New England brick architecture with modern academic and residential f…