Bard College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Annandale-On-Hudson, New York. It enrolls 2,414 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
59/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes74
Value4
Affordability10
Selectivity85
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 52.1%, Bard College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
52.1%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1270 – 1450
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
28 – 32
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Bard College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
12.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Bard College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $34,649 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$34,649
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
17%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
32%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$66,436
Room & Board (on-campus)
$18,852
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,660
Books & Supplies
$950
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,550
Total Cost of Attendance
$84,553
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$19,012
$30,001 – $48,000
$21,038
$48,001 – $75,000
$22,139
$75,001 – $110,000
$28,185
Over $110,000
$44,873
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$10,25025%percentile
$24,254Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$28,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,000
↓ $5,254
No Pell $18,876
↓ $5,378
Dependent students $19,000
↓ $5,254
Independent students $15,160
↓ $9,094
Female students $16,500
↓ $7,754
Male students $19,500
↓ $4,754
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($24,254), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
71% of full-time students who enrolled at Bard College graduate within six years, and 85% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
71%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
85%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Bard College earn a median of $46,543 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$46,543
Earning > $25K
67%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$40,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$41,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,600, about 16% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Bard College is home to 2,414 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,414
Part-Time
9%
First-Generation
12%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 44.9%1,084
International 14.1%340
Hispanic 14.0%338
Black 12.9%312
Other 7.0%168
Asian 2.7%66
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Bard College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeAnnandale-On-Hudson, New York
Housing
Mostly residential1,400 beds on campus
Adult Learners
22%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Bard College offers
a varied set of programs:
18 distinct programs across
8 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bard College is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$490M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$111,385
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
219 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
52
24%
$152,247
Associate Professors
83
38%
$108,036
Assistant Professors
73
33%
$89,744
Instructors
4
2%
$84,288
Lecturers
1
0%
$100,000
No Rank
6
3%
$86,847
Pros & Cons of Bard College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Bard College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
CONS
Above-average net price
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Frequently Asked Questions about Bard College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Bard College.
Is Bard College hard to get into?
Admissions at Bard College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 52.1%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Bard College?
Bard College has an acceptance rate of 52.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Bard College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bard College scored between 1270 and 1450 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Bard College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bard College scored between 28 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Bard College cost?
The average net price after aid at Bard College is $34,649 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Bard College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $46,543 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $34,649 per year. That's roughly 1.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Bard College known for?
Bard College is best known for its programs in Social Sciences, Liberal Arts, Fine Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Bard College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Bard College are $46,543, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Bard College accredited?
Yes. Bard College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Bard College?
Bard College enrolls 2,414 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Bard College?
Bard College graduates 71% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Bard College a public or private college?
Bard College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Bard College located?
Bard College is located in Annandale-On-Hudson, New York.
What programs does Bard College offer?
Bard College offers 18 distinct programs. The most popular include Social Sciences, Liberal Arts, Fine Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Bard College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bard College is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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