Bates operates three campuses in Tacoma, occupying a total of approximately 650,000 square feet (60,000 m2) of classrooms, shops, meeting rooms, and offices.

Classes at Bates run from September to August with quarter-based academic and enrollment calendar.

[citation needed] Classroom settings are similar to the workplace in a related field, and students are evaluated as they would be at a business.

The college claims to works closely with industries pertaining to career education areas to improve their curriculum.

The college has partnerships with businesses and industry organizations, both locally and internationally[5] The student body and employees are involved in public events, hosted at Bates and throughout the community, including an annual Veterans Day Celebration, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, and a Disability Awareness Day.