Bard College

www.bard.edu

Add Comparison

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$65,614

4.5% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$29,320

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

52.1%

7,583 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

2,911

89.6% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

67.6%

327 Graduates

About

Bard College is a higher education institution located in Dutchess County, NY. In 2024, the most popular Associates Degree concentrations at Bard College were Liberal Arts & Sciences (138 degrees awarded).

In 2024, 829 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Bard College. 59.6% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 40.4% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (343 degrees), 2.72 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (126 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Bard College is $65,614, which is $37,436 more than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,178).

Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus Baccalaureate Colleges

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Bard College is $65,614, which is $37,436 more than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,178).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $29,320.

In 2024, 57% of undergraduate students attending Bard College received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 32% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$65,614

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Bard College was $65,614. The cost of tuition at Bard College is $37,436 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,178).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Bard College (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$29,320

2024 Value

16.3%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Bard College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $29,320. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Bard College grew by 16.3%.

This chart compares the average net price of Bard College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$16,850

Room and Board

$950

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Bard College was of $16,850 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 8.78% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $950. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Bard College (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

57%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

32%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

57% of undergraduate students at Bard College received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a decline of 17.4% with respect to 2023, when 69% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Bard College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

Bard College received 7,583 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 14.4% annual growth. Out of those 7,583 applicants, 3,952 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 52.1% acceptance rate.

There were 2,911 students enrolled at Bard College in 2024. 13% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Bard College has an overall enrollment yield of 12.8%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

52.1%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

3,952

Accepted Out of 7,583

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Bard College was 52.1% (3,952 admissions from 7,583 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 52.3%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants grew by 14.4%, while admissions grew by 14%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Bard College (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

13%

Submission Percentage (2024)

Scores Submitted (2024)

13% of enrolled first-time students at Bard College in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Bard College had a total enrollment of 2,911 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Bard College is 2,607 students and the part-time enrollment is 304. This means that 89.6% of students enrolled at Bard College are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Bard College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 43.7% White, 13% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Black or African American, 6.56% Two or More Races, 3.47% Asian, and 0.206% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Bard College in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (29.5%), followed by White Male (17.5%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (7.86%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (24.8%), followed by White Male (17.5%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (4.18%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

89.6%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Bard College in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 2,911 students. The full-time enrollment at Bard College is 2,607 and the part-time enrollment is 304. This means that 89.6% of students enrolled at Bard College are enrolled full-time compared with 78.9% at similar Baccalaureate Colleges.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Bard College (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

85%

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. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Bard College was 85%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Baccalaureate Colleges (75%), Bard College had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Bard College (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
1,273 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
378 enrolled students
Black or African American
329 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Bard College is 43.7% White, 13% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Black or African American, 6.56% Two or More Races, 3.47% Asian, and 0.206% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Baccalaureate Colleges is 50.5% White, 15.6% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.2% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 130 students (4.47%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 159 more women than men received degrees from Bard College. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Bard College is white (343 degrees awarded). There were 2.72 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (126 degrees).

The most common Associates Degree concentration at Bard College is Liberal Arts & Sciences (138 degrees awarded).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Bard College, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are English (85 degrees awarded), Visual & Performing Arts (238 degrees), and Social Sciences (198 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Other managers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Bard College are Other managers (431,194 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (425,364 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (316,774 people), Postsecondary teachers (229,573 people), and Secondary school teachers (191,576 people).

The most specialized majors at Bard College in 2024 are English (85 degrees awarded), Visual & Performing Arts (238 degrees), Social Sciences (198 degrees), Interdisciplinary Studies (88 degrees), and Natural Resources & Conservation (11 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Bard College are Surgeons, Diagnostic medical sonographers, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Nurse anesthetists, and Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

The most specialized majors at Bard College are English (85 degrees awarded), Visual & Performing Arts (238 degrees), Social Sciences (198 degrees), Interdisciplinary Studies (88 degrees), and Natural Resources & Conservation (11 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Bard College are Elementary & secondary schools (782,415 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (539,295 people), Computer Systems Design (356,848 people), Legal services (355,134 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (296,420 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Bard College.

Liberal Arts & Sciences

Most Common (2024)

138 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common associates degree concentration at Bard College was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 138 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from associates degree programs at Bard College according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

335

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

494

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 335 degrees were awarded to men at Bard College, which is 0.678 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (494).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Bard College by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 71 degrees were awarded to men at Bard College in General Social Sciences, which is 0.74 times less than the 96 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 96 degrees were awarded to men at Bard College in General Fine Studio Arts, which is 1.63 times more than the 59 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

62%

100% Completion Time

72%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 62% of students graduating from Bard College completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 72% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 72% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Baccalaureate Colleges Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Two or More Races Female

Highest Graduation Rate (83.3%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at Bard College is Female and Two or More Races (83.3% graduation rate). Across all Baccalaureate Colleges, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 3.72% of graduates (12 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
343 degrees awarded
Black or African American
126 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
105 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Bard College is white (343 degrees awarded). There were 2.72 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (126 degrees).

3.5% of degree recipients (29 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Female
285 degrees awarded
White Female
280 degrees awarded
White Female
262 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Bard College is white female (285 degrees awarded). There were 1.02 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (280 degrees).

Operations

Bard College has an endowment valued at nearly $168M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 22M (13.1%) compared to the 7.58% average return (3.75M on 49.5M) across all Baccalaureate Colleges.

In 2024, Bard College had a total salary expenditure of 254M. Bard College employs 90 Associate professors, 85 Assistant professors and 59 Professors. Most academics at Bard College are Female Assistant professor (51), Male Associate professor (48), and Female Associate professor (42).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Bard College are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 151 employees, Natural Resources, Construction, and Maintenance, with 112 employees, and Management with 95 employees.

Endowment

$168M

2024 Endowment

10.9%

growth from 2023

Bard College has an endowment valued at about $168M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Bard College grew 10.9% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $118M higher than than the median endowment of Baccalaureate Colleges according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Bard College (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$111M

2024 Salaries

15.2%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Bard College paid a median of $111M in salaries, which represents 43.9% of their overall expenditure ($254M) and a 15.2% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 8.84% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 10% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$27.4M

Instructional Salaries

242

Number of Employees

In 2024, Bard College paid a total of $27.4M to 242 employees working as instructors, which represents 24.6% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $522k (3.48%) for similar Baccalaureate Colleges.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Bard College were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 151 employees, Natural Resources, Construction, and Maintenance with 112 employees, and Management with 95 employees.

Keep Exploring