Barnard College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in New York, New York. It enrolls 3,264 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.
Strong
77/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes97
Value54
Affordability14
Selectivity97
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 8.8%, Barnard College is among the most selective colleges in the country.
Acceptance Rate
8.8%
Highly Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1470 – 1560
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
32 – 34
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 Barnard College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
3.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Barnard 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 $28,800 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$28,800
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
16%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
26%
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
$69,888
Room & Board (on-campus)
$21,714
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,692
Books & Supplies
$1,150
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,830
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,830
Total Cost of Attendance
$89,538
Application fee: $75 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$11,600
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,374
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,094
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,753
Over $110,000
$51,378
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.
$4,50010%percentile
$10,00025%percentile
$18,000Medianpercentile
$19,05575%percentile
$25,00090%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 $16,250
↓ $1,750
No Pell $15,500
↓ $2,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,000, less than completers ($18,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
94% of full-time students who enrolled at Barnard College graduate within six years, and 97% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
94%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
97%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Barnard College earn a median of $80,516 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$80,516
Earning > $25K
83%
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 Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$72,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$68,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$69,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
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 ↑
7.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 97% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Barnard College is home to 3,264 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
3,264
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
16%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 32.4%1,056
Asian 21.9%714
International 15.6%508
Hispanic 14.3%468
Other 8.0%262
Black 5.6%181
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Barnard College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityNew York, New York
Housing
Strongly residential2,425 beds for 3,264 students
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Women's college
What You Can Study
Barnard College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
42 distinct programs across
17 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 Barnard College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$690M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$138,592
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
287 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
101
35%
$205,137
Associate Professors
30
10%
$137,272
Assistant Professors
51
18%
$106,797
Instructors
70
24%
$84,280
Lecturers
22
8%
$110,948
No Rank
13
5%
$88,598
Pros & Cons of Barnard College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Barnard College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Highly selective, strong peer cohort
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Highly competitive admissions, many strong applicants are rejected
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Barnard College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students seeking a highly selective peer group.
Frequently Asked Questions about Barnard College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Barnard College.
Is Barnard College hard to get into?
Yes. Barnard College is among the most selective colleges in the United States, with an acceptance rate of 8.8%. Successful applicants typically have top-decile test scores and strong academic, extracurricular, and recommendation profiles.
What is the acceptance rate at Barnard College?
Barnard College has an acceptance rate of 8.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Barnard College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Barnard College scored between 1470 and 1560 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 Barnard College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Barnard College scored between 32 and 34 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Barnard College cost?
The average net price after aid at Barnard College is $28,800 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Barnard College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $80,516 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $28,800 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Barnard College known for?
Barnard College is best known for its programs in Economics, Experimental Psychology, Political Science. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Barnard College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Barnard College are $80,516, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Barnard College accredited?
Yes. Barnard College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Barnard College?
Barnard College enrolls 3,264 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Barnard College?
Barnard College graduates 94% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Barnard College a public or private college?
Barnard College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Barnard College located?
Barnard College is located in New York, New York.
What programs does Barnard College offer?
Barnard College offers 42 distinct programs. The most popular include Economics, Experimental Psychology, Political Science.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Barnard College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Barnard College is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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