Bard College vs. Arcadia

Should I go to Bard College or Arcadia University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bard College or Arcadia is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Bard College vs. Arcadia University comparison
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Bard College Arcadia University
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Overview

Bard College Arcadia
Location Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Glenside, PA
Setting Town Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,922 3,142
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #180 #471
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bard.edu arcadia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bard College Arcadia
Tuition (In State) $62,790 $47,590
Tuition (Out of State) $62,790 $47,590
Room & Board $18,040 $16,250
Avg Net Price $25,218 $26,994
Avg Grant Aid $56,380 $34,234
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 100%

Admission

Bard College Arcadia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,628 6,688
Admitted 3,466 5,296
Acceptance Rate 52.3% 79.2%
Enrolled % 11.6% 7.9%
Avg High School GPA - 3.42
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/32 26/30
SAT Range 1290/1440 1083/1310
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 1, 2026

Academics

Bard College Arcadia
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Bard College Arcadia
Graduation Rate 76% 62%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $46,400
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,194 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $270 $279

Diversity

Bard College Arcadia
% Men 6% 11%
% Women 10% 28%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 63% 68%
% Black 8% 9%
% Hispanic 1% 8%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 4%
% International 10% 3%
% Unknown Race 11% 2%

Students

Bard College Arcadia
% In-State 31% 66%
% Out-of-State 59% 32%

Campus

Bard College Arcadia
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Arcadia University is larger than than Bard College based on total student enrollment (3,142 students vs. 2,922 students)

Bard College vs. Arcadia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Arcadia?

  • Bard College is 31.9% more expensive to attend than Arcadia for in-state tuition ($62,790.00 vs. $47,590.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31.9% higher at Bard College than Arcadia University ($62,790.00 vs. $47,590.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bard College than Arcadia ($25,218 vs. $26,994)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arcadia University are 11% lower than costs at Bard College ($16,250 vs. $18,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Arcadia University than Bard College (100% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 64.7% larger than aid received Arcadia University ($56,380 vs. $34,234)

Bard College vs. Arcadia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bard College or Arcadia? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Arcadia or Bard College .

  • Arcadia has a higher acceptance rate (79.2%) than Bard College (52.3%)

Bard College vs. Arcadia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bard College or Arcadia? 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 Arcadia and Bard College.

  • The graduation rate at Bard College is higher than Arcadia University (76% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from Arcadia University earn on average $4,800 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($46,400 vs. $41,600)
  • Bard College students graduate with a $806 lower median federal student loan debt than Arcadia graduates. ($26,194 vs. $27,000)
  • Bard College graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than Arcadia graduates. ($270 vs. $279)
  • More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Arcadia students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/