City: Lewiston, ME

Category: Relocation

Telephone: (207) 786-6255

Description: Founded in 1855, Bates is one of the nicest things about Lewiston, occupying 109 woody acres in the center of the city. Known for excellence in the sciences, the school has small student-to-teacher ratios (as low as 10:1) and is perennially ranked among the nation’s best in college surveys. The school was number 25 in the U.S. News & World Report’s famed “Best American Colleges” issue among the top 217 liberal arts schools. And Seventeen magazine called it “cool” to boot. There are 1,700 students here, and they’re a bright and active bunch. Most participate in some sort of student-run club or sport, and more than two-thirds go on to graduate school. Founded by abolitionists, the school prides itself on its diverse student body. Tuition and board run about $49,000. The campus includes the Olin Arts Center (Russell and Bardwell Streets; 207-786-6135), where there are often films and performances open to the public, and the Bates College Museum of Art (Russell Street; 207-786-6158), an excellent small art collection. On Thursdays in the summer there are free concerts that are worth attending. Also a biggie in the summer is the Bates Dance Festival (207-786-6161), which attracts big names from the world of modern dance.