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George Washington Georgetown Fordham Syracuse Mason Lafayette College DU Drexel William & Mary Elon Wesleyan University University of Richmond| American University | Bard College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
AU | Bard College | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Annandale-On-Hudson, NY | ||
| Setting | Large City | Town Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 13,019 | 2,922 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #84 | #180 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | bard.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | Bard College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,724 | $62,790 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,724 | $62,790 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,012 | $18,040 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $40,189 | $25,218 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,402 | $56,380 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 77% |
Admission |
AU | Bard College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,786 | 6,628 | ||
| Admitted | 8,427 | 3,466 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.4% | 52.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22% | 11.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 30/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1300/1450 | 1290/1440 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 | Jan 1, 2026 |
Academics |
AU | Bard College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
AU | Bard College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 76% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $41,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 81% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $26,194 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $270 |
Diversity |
AU | Bard College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 10% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 63% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 1% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 0% | ||
| % International | 7% | 10% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 11% |
Students |
AU | Bard College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 31% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 59% | ||
Campus |
AU | Bard College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- American University is larger than than Bard College based on total student enrollment (13,019 students vs. 2,922 students)
AU vs. Bard College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or Bard College?
- Bard College is 12.7% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($62,790.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- Out of state tuition is 12.7% higher at Bard College than American University ($62,790.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bard College than AU ($25,218 vs. $40,189)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 6% lower than costs at Bard College ($17,012 vs. $18,040)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Bard College than American University (77% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 79.5% larger than aid received American University ($56,380 vs. $31,402)
AU vs. Bard College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or Bard College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bard College or AU .
- Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than AU (47.4%)
AU vs. Bard College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or Bard College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Bard College and AU.
- The graduation rate at AU is higher than Bard College (77% vs. 76%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $23,200 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $41,600)
- American University students graduate with a $1,944 lower median federal student loan debt than Bard College graduates. ($24,250 vs. $26,194)
- AU graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than Bard College graduates. ($250 vs. $270)
- More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 80%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/