Bard College Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Bard College is a private research university in Annandale-On-Hudson, New York, enrolling about 2,414 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 52.12% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $46,543 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $66,436
- 2024 Average Net Price: $34,649 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 52.12% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 2,414 91.3% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 67.56%
- Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
- First-Generation Students: 12.2%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 4.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 15.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 74.3%
- Average SAT Score: 1380
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,965
- Applicants (IPEDS): 6,628
- Room & Board: $18,852 annual estimate
Bard College: what the data shows
Common questions about Bard College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Bard College?
Bard College is located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (ZIP 12504-5000).
Is Bard College public or private?
Bard College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Bard College cost?
Published tuition: $66,436.
Average net price after aid: $34,649.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $19,012 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $21,038 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $22,139 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $28,185 |
| $110,001+ | $44,873 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $265,744.
How hard is it to get into Bard College?
Admission rate: 52.12%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1380.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Bard College?
Total enrollment: 2,414 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,965 students.
Graduate enrollment: 473 students.
About 91% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Bard College?
150%-time completion rate: 67.56%.
First-year retention: 84.6%.
What do graduates of Bard College earn?
Median earnings: $31,072 six years after entry; $46,543 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $24,254.
16.67% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Bard College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Social Sciences, General (167 completions)
- Fine/Studio Arts, General (155 completions)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (138 completions)
- Biological and Physical Sciences (87 completions)
- English Language and Literature/Letters, Other (85 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (55 completions)
- Music Performance, General (47 completions)
- Art History, Criticism and Conservation (32 completions)
- Social Sciences, Other (14 completions)
- Environmental Science (11 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Bard College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 52.12%; completion rate 67.56%; median earnings $46,543 at 10 years; net price $34,649. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$66,436
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Bard College was $66,436.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$34,649
2024 Value
In 2024 Bard College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $34,649.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$138,596 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$34,649 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$265,744 4-Year Tuition
$18,852 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$950 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$86,238 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$344,952 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Bard College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
16.67% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
31.68% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Bard College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Bard College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $46,370 | $46,370 | $27,556 |
| 2014 | $48,240 | $48,240 | $29,152 |
| 2015 | $49,906 | $49,906 | $25,835 |
| 2016 | $51,384 | $51,384 | $31,371 |
| 2017 | $52,906 | $52,906 | $26,792 |
| 2018 | $54,680 | $54,680 | $25,885 |
| 2019 | $56,036 | $56,036 | $24,660 |
| 2020 | $56,036 | $56,036 | $26,013 |
| 2021 | $57,968 | $57,968 | $23,332 |
| 2022 | $60,622 | $60,622 | $27,474 |
| 2023 | $63,612 | $63,612 | $31,771 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
52.12% Acceptance Rate
6,628 Total Applicants
3,466 Students Admitted
402 First-Time Students Enrolled
11.60% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1380
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.5 - 3.7
Estimated Median GPA: 3.60
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Bard College reported total enrollment of about 2,414 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 43% male and 57% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (44.9%), Non-Resident Alien (14.1%), and Hispanic or Latino (14.0%). About 16.67% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 12.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
91.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Bard College in 2024 is 2,414 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,965 students. Graduate enrollment is about 473 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
84.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 44.9%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
54.13% 100% Completion Time
67.56% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 54.13% of students graduating from Bard College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Social Sciences, General: 43% male / 57% female
- Fine/Studio Arts, General: 38% male / 62% female
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 46% male / 54% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Bard College.
Return on Investment
$24,254 Median Student Debt
$46,543 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
52.11% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
235.82% Return on Investment
5.2 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Bard College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 17 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Social Sciences, General: 167 completions
2. Fine/Studio Arts, General: 155 completions
3. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 138 completions
4. Biological and Physical Sciences: 87 completions
5. English Language and Literature/Letters, Other: 85 completions
6. Business Administration and Management, General: 55 completions
7. Music Performance, General: 47 completions
8. Art History, Criticism and Conservation: 32 completions
9. Social Sciences, Other: 14 completions
Most popular programs at Bard College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Bard College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Bard College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 74.3%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $12,589
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $42,373
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Bard College is a private non-profit institution located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Social Sciences, General, Fine/Studio Arts, General, Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. Enrollment is approximately 2,414 students. Student body composition includes White (44.9%), Non-Resident Alien (14.1%), Hispanic or Latino (14.0%). The admission rate is 52.12%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1380. The 150%-time completion rate is 67.56%. Approximately 16.67% of students receive Pell Grants. About 12.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
Location
Annandale-On-Hudson, NY 12504-5000
Region: Mid East
Insights and Analysis
Bard College provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bard College located?
Bard College is located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY.
What is Bard College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Bard College is 52.1% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 6,628 applicants and 3,466 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Bard College cost?
Reported tuition is $66,436 and average net price is $34,649 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $18,852 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Bard College?
Bard College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,965 students, White (44.9%), Non-Resident Alien (14.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Bard College?
About 12.2% of students at Bard College are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Bard College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Bard College reports midpoint SAT about 1380.
What do graduates of Bard College earn?
Median earnings are $31,072 six years after entry and $46,543 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Bard College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 67.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Bard College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,254.
Is Bard College public or private?
Bard College is a private nonprofit institution located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY.
Is Bard College an HBCU?
No. Bard College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Bard College a tribal college?
No. Bard College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- New York college costs
- New York colleges by ROI
- Mid East regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in New York
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.