Bates College today announced a new partnership with QuestBridge, a national nonprofit that connects high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds with leading institutions of higher education.
“At Bates, we hold a long-standing belief in the transformative power of education along with our foundational commitments to excellence, inclusion, and access,” said Bates President Garry W. Jenkins. “Our partnership with QuestBridge furthers these commitments and strengthens our ability to empower exceptional students from all backgrounds, preparing them for lives of meaning, leadership, and impact.”
Founded in 1994 by Ana Rowena Mallari and Dr. Michael McCullough while they were Stanford students, QuestBridge partners with top colleges and universities dedicated to providing accessible and affordable life-changing opportunities to the best and brightest students, regardless of their financial backgrounds. Through this partnership, QuestBridge and its partners have supported tens of thousands of students to thrive in college and beyond.
“We are thrilled to welcome Bates College to the QuestBridge partnership,” said Mallari, co-founder and CEO of QuestBridge. “With its commitment to the transformative power of differences and intellectual curiosity, Bates offers an environment where our Scholars are sure to excel and thrive. We are delighted our Scholars will have access to this campus community.”
In addition to Bates, QuestBridge added Harvard College and the University of Richmond to its partners today, now at 55 institutions. Through its National College Match, students can earn admission and full four-year scholarships to college. Over 100,000 students have been served by QuestBridge programs, and more than 17,000 have been awarded Match scholarships by college partners. In December 2024, QuestBridge announced that a record 2,627 high school seniors had been awarded full scholarships to top colleges through the National College Match.
“Bates Admission and Student Financial Services are proud to collaborate with this powerful engine for access,” said Vice President of Enrollment & Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Leigh Weisenburger. “We’ll enroll our first cohort of QuestBridge Scholars at Bates in Fall 2026, and we are already looking forward to welcoming them and all they will bring to our community.”
QuestBridge Match Scholarships provided by college partners cover the full cost of attendance, including tuition, food, housing, books, course materials, and travel expenses. Bates has a deep commitment to improving access for excellent students with high need for financial assistance. Over 40 percent of Bates students receive financial aid, and the college meets 100 percent of students’ demonstrated financial need.
Located in Lewiston, Maine, Bates is internationally recognized as a leading college of the liberal arts, Bates enrolls 1,800 students from across the U.S. and around the world. Since 1855, Bates has been dedicated to educating the whole person through creative and rigorous scholarship in a collaborative residential community. Committed to opportunity and excellence, Bates has always admitted students without regard to gender, race, religion, or national origin.
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"Our partnership with QuestBridge furthers our long-standing commitment to excellence, inclusion and access and strengthens our ability to empower exceptional students from all backgrounds,” said Bates President Garry W. Jenkins.
Contacts
Director of Media Relations Mary Pols at mpols@bates.edu 207-786-8248