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Bard College

#42 in Best Colleges for Art in America
  • 4 Year
  • Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
  • 538 reviews
    How to Apply
    B+
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Academics
      A-
    2. Value
      B+
    3. Diversity
      A
    4. Campus
      D
    5. Athletics
      C+
    6. Party Scene
      C+
    7. Professors
      A
    8. Location
      C
    9. Dorms
      D-
    10. Campus Food
      C-
    11. Student Life
      C
    12. Safety
      B-
    View Full Report Card
    Bard is an above-average private college located in Red Hook, New York. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 1,862 undergraduate students. Admissions is fairly competitive as the Bard acceptance rate is 58%. Popular majors include Social Science Research Methods, Studio Arts, and English. Graduating 74% of students, Bard alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $28,800.
    About Bard College...
    Athletic Division
    NCAA Division III (without football)
    Athletic Conference
    Liberty League
    Address
    Annandale Road
    Annandale-On-Hudson, NY 12504
    Website
    bard.edu
    Work Here? Claim Your College

    Bard College Rankings

    Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

    Admissions

    Acceptance Rate
    58%
    Application Deadline
    —
    SAT Range
    —
    ACT Range
    —
    Application Fee
    $50
    SAT/ACT
    Neither required nor recommended
    High School GPA
    Recommended
    Early Decision/Early Action
    —

    Test Prep

    SAT and ACT Prep Options
    Learn More
    • 200-Point SAT & 4-Point ACT Score Improvement Guarantees
    • Save $200 When You Enroll Online

    Cost

    Net Price
    $29,436/ year
    National
    $15,523
    Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
    Average Total Aid Awarded
    $39,096/ year
    National
    $7,535
    Students Receiving Financial Aid
    69%

    Academics

    Professors
    A
    Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
    Student Faculty Ratio
    9:1
    Evening Degree Programs
    No
    86%
    of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.42 responses
    45%
    of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.49 responses
    55%
    of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.49 responses
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    Majors

    Most Popular Majors
    • Social Science Research Methods
      155 Graduates
    • Studio Arts
      125 Graduates
    • English
      97 Graduates
    • Natural Sciences
      69 Graduates
    • Music Performance
      11 Graduates
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities
      2 Graduates

    Students

    Full-Time Enrollment
    1,862Undergrads
    Part-Time Undergrads
    76
    Undergrads Over 25
    1%
    Pell Grant
    22%
    Varsity Athletes
    13%
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
    Based on 28 responses
    Report
    • Smart
      29%
    • Hipster/opinionated
      18%
    • Individual
      18%
    • Intelligent grundgy artsy
      18%
    • Pretentious
      11%
    • Lacking
      4%
    • Self-absorbed but sometimes well-meaning
      4%

    Campus Life

    Freshmen Live On-Campus
    99%
    Poll
    100%
    of students say they don't have Greek life.30 responses
    Poll
    67%
    of students say no one pays attention to varsity sports.58 responses
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes your school?
    Based on 26 responses
    Report
    • Liberal
      31%
    • Expensive.
      15%
    • Hipster
      15%
    • Cigs
      8%
    • Eccentric
      8%
    • Underrated
      8%
    • Hell
      4%

    After College

    Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
    $39,700/ year
    National
    $33,028
    Graduation Rate
    74%
    National
    49%
    Employed 2 Years After Graduation
    88%
    National
    83%
    57%
    of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.21 responses
    Colleges like Bard College
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    Bard College Reviews

    538 reviews
    All Categories
    I loved Bard! In fact, I ended up marrying another Bard grad and most of my best friends are the ones with whom I bonded at the very start of my freshman year. I'm also very involved in alumni events because I miss the school so much. It really is a wonderful college with incredible professors, a beautiful campus (and surrounding area), and a brilliant, creative and unique student body. My sister now goes to Bard and loves it too.
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    The campus itself is stunning--center of the Hudson Valley, ample access to all things out-doors, and the architecture is a mix of modern and old. Blithewood is a must-see for all visiting students. However, I will say the dorms leave much to be desired as does the spacing of campus. Most students live off campus after sophomore year anyways and living in the crappy dorms becomes somewhat of a bonding experience among students (Hud-Cat for life!)

    Diversity is lacking (majority white, upperclass, hipster, liberal students). However, it is possible to find your "niche" on campus beyond the hipster ideal.

    Overall, Bard is a great academic institution with a quirky social scene set in the heart of nature. While I had a 5 star experience, I understand that the vibe of this college may not be for everyone, but approaching Bard with an open-mind makes it a great university for the undecided to find their academic passion.
    Small and great college. Elite in its own right and attracts intellectual and artistic types. Benefits from and contributes to New York City culture in art, literature, social science. Bard Fiction Prize annually awards $30,000 and semester-long residence to acclaimed, up-and-coming young novelists. Large, beautiful campus. Eclectic architecture. It's also a college in the service of humanity, as it has satellite programs all over the world, like the Bard Prison Initiative, Bard Early Colleges, and college programs in underserved regions in the world.