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Bates CollegeMove-In Guide

Lewiston, Maine

🏫 Private UniversityEst. 1855🔗 www.bates.edu

Bates College's Historic Quad centers on Hathorn Hall, the college's first building since 1857, with first-year students placed into First-Year Centers - clusters of ten to twenty students led by a Junior Advisor - across halls including Parker, Chu, and Kalperis.

Enrollment

1,760

Total Students

Freshman Class

440

Approx.

Move-In Dates

Aug 27, 2026

Fall 2026 (completed)

Acceptance Rate

13%

Most recent cycle

Move-In

Fall 2026 Move-In Details

Arrive by car directly to Underhill Arena rather than parking and walking - students are dropped off to check in at Commons for their Bates ID and room key, while family drives to the assigned residence hall separately. Look for unloading zone signage and a Bates volunteer at your residence hall who will confirm your room number. Meal plans begin the same day as move-in.

Check your assignment in the housing portal for your specific date and time.

Move-in day logistics

Arrival window
Thursday, August 27, between 8 a.m. and noon. The arrival page also lists a Monday, August 24 option, so confirm which date applies to you.
Check-in location
Check in at Commons to activate your Bates ID and pick up your room key; complete your New Student Forms first. Some halls, such as Chu and Kalperis, use PIN-based access through your ID card instead of a traditional key.
Parking
Drop the student at Commons, then drive to your residence hall's unloading zone, which has signage and a Bates volunteer who confirms your room number. Put the index card with your room number on the dashboard so student movers know where to deliver your things. After unloading, volunteers direct you to the nearest lot.
What you'll receive
You'll get your activated Bates ID and your room key (or PIN access) at Commons, and your meal plan starts the same day. Student movers help carry belongings to your room.
Vehicle restrictions
Arrive by car to the residence hall unloading zone, unload, then move to a nearby lot.

Move-in day tips

  • Arrive during your assigned move-in window - arriving early may mean waiting until your time slot.
  • Bring a rolling cart or hand truck - campus carts can run out quickly during busy move-in periods.
  • Have a parking backup plan - spaces near residence halls can fill up quickly, so know where you can unload if your preferred area is full.
  • Watch the loading-zone time limit - many campuses require you to move your vehicle to longer-term parking after unloading.

Housing & Dorms

First-year halls (4)

Reserved for first-year students

  • Clason House

    First-year only

  • Frye House

    First-year only

  • Milliken House

    First-year only

  • Small House

    First-year only

Residence halls (30)

Open to undergraduates (first-year students may be able to live here)

  • 10 Frye St.

    Suite · Coed

  • Adams Hall

  • Chase House

  • Cheney House

Show 26 more

  • Chu Hall

  • Frye St. Union

  • Gillespie Hall

  • Hacker House

  • Hayes House

  • Herrick House

  • Hopkins House

    Suite · Coed

  • John Bertram Hall

    Suite · Coed

  • Kalperis Hall

  • Mitchell House

  • Moody House

    Suite · Coed

  • Moulton House

  • Nash House

  • Page Hall

    Traditional · Coed

  • Parker Hall

  • Parsons House

  • Pierce House

  • Rand Hall

  • Rzasa House

    Suite · Coed

  • Smith Hall

  • Stillman House

  • Turner House

    Suite · Coed

  • Webb House

  • Whittier House

  • Wilson House

  • Wood St. House

Housing Links

Who can live where

First-year only:
Reserved for incoming first-year students.
Residence halls:
Not marked first-year only, so they may also house returning students. Assignment follows the school's housing process.

Eligibility rules vary and can change. Check with the housing office.

Orientation

New Student Orientation (required)

All new students are required to attend one orientation session.

August 27 - September 1, 2026

Orientation tips

  • Register as early as your class allows - popular session dates fill up first.
  • Bring a parent/guardian if separate family programming is offered.
  • Check whether placement testing or advising sign-ups happen the same day.

Costs

Room & Board

$18,000

Estimated / Year

Figures shown are estimates for room and board only, and can vary by hall and meal plan. Check with Bates College's financial aid office for a cost breakdown specific to your situation.

Nearby Essentials

  • CVS Pharmacy0.7 miles
  • Target1.5 miles
  • Walmart1.8 miles
  • Walgreens3.1 miles

Need Dorm Essentials Delivered?

More Links

Checklists

Get the Ultimate College Move-In Checklist

A free, printable packing checklist covering everything from bedding to important documents - built for any freshman, including yours at Bates College.

Get the checklist

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Dates last checked August 2026.