Simon's Rock vs. Plaza College

Comparable Facts

Compare Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, MA with Plaza College in Forest Hills, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Plaza College is larger than Simon's Rock based on total student enrollment (1,002 students vs. 314 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bard College at Simon's Rock is located in Great Barrington, MA (Distant Town setting); Plaza College is in Forest Hills, NY (Large City setting).
• Bard College at Simon's Rock is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Plaza College is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bard College at Simon's Rock 6:1; Plaza College 28:1.

Simon's Rock vs. Plaza College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Simon's Rock or Plaza College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Plaza College than Simon's Rock ($19,860 vs. $41,013).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Plaza College are 17.8% lower than at Bard College at Simon's Rock ($15,500 vs. $18,852).
• Bard College at Simon's Rock is 345.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Plaza College (about $53,330 more per year; $68,780.00 vs. $15,450.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 345.2% higher at Simon's Rock than at Plaza College (about $53,330 more per year; $68,780.00 vs. $15,450.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bard College at Simon's Rock than at Plaza College (99% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College at Simon's Rock students is 539.7% larger than aid received by Plaza College students ($42,635 vs. $6,665).

Simon's Rock vs. Plaza College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Simon's Rock or Plaza College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Plaza College and Simon's Rock.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Simon's Rock - Test-free; Plaza College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Simon's Rock Jun 1, 2027.
• Simon's Rock has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than Plaza College (30%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Simon's Rock vs. 54.9% at Plaza College.

Simon's Rock vs. Plaza College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Simon's Rock and Plaza College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Bard College at Simon's Rock earn a median of about $12,600 more per year than Plaza College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Plaza College graduates have a $585 lower median loan debt than Simon's Rock graduates ($13,915 vs. $14,500).
• Among borrowers, Plaza College graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Simon's Rock graduates ($143 vs. $149).
• More Simon's Rock graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Plaza College students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 30%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.