Bard College vs. Bennington

Comparable Facts

Compare Bard College in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY with Bennington College in Bennington, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bard College is larger than Bennington based on total student enrollment (2,911 students vs. 927 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bard College is located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting); Bennington College is in Bennington, VT (Rural Fringe setting).
• Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bennington College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bard College 9:1; Bennington College 9:1.

Bard College vs. Bennington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Bennington? 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 Bard College than Bennington ($29,320 vs. $34,220).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bard College are 1.3% lower than at Bennington College ($18,852 vs. $19,108).
• Bard College is 0.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bennington (about $174 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $66,262.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.3% higher at Bard College than at Bennington College (about $174 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $66,262.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bennington College than at Bard College (100% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 4.1% larger than aid received by Bennington College students ($55,235 vs. $53,064).

Bard College vs. Bennington Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bard College or Bennington? 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 Bennington and Bard College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bard College (1360) is 10 points higher than at Bennington (1350).
• Incoming Bennington students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Bard College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 1270/1450; Bennington College 1291/1403.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 28/32; Bennington College 30/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bard College - Test optional; Bennington - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bard College Jan 1, 2027; Bennington Jan 15, 2027.
• Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.1%) than Bennington (44.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.8% at Bard College vs. 11.5% at Bennington.

Bard College vs. Bennington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bard College and Bennington? 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).

• Bard College's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Bennington College's (67%).
• Graduates from Bard College earn a median of about $9,900 more per year than Bennington graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bennington College graduates have a $194 lower median loan debt than Bard College graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,194).
• Among borrowers, Bennington graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bard College graduates ($268 vs. $270).
• More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bennington students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 77%)

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.