The school sponsors 32 varsity sports (16 men's, 16 women's), most of which compete in the Division III New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).

Bates has rivalries with Princeton in Squash and Dartmouth in Skiing and selected hockey bouts.

Bates has won this championship at total of twelve times including 2014, 2015, and in 2016 beat Bowdoin 24–7 after their 21–19 abroad victory over Colby.

[3][4] Bates is currently the holder of the winning streak, and has the record for biggest victory in the athletic conference with a 51–0 shutout of Colby College.

[8] As of 2018, the college has graduated a total of 12 Olympians, one of whom won the Olympic Gold Medal rowing for Canada.

The men's football team competes in the Division III New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).

[86] The women's basketball team earned the top seed in the NESCAC in 2005, and competed in the finals with Bowdoin for three consecutive years until 2008.

[95][96] The college's sailing team is based at the Taylor Pond Yacht Club, in Auburn, Maine.

As of 2018, the college has graduated a total of 12 Olympians, one of whom won the Olympic Gold Medal rowing for Canada.