Bard College vs. Brown

Deciding between Bard College and Brown University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Bard College
Brown University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Bard College Town Fringe
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bard College 2,911
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Bard College Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bard College #184
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bard College -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Bard College Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bard College
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Bard College $18,852
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Bard College $29,320
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bard College $55,235
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bard College 74%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bard College 7,583
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Bard College 3,952
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bard College 52.1%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Bard College 12.8%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bard College 1360
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bard College 30
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bard College -
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bard College -
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bard College Very High
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bard College Low
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Bard College 28/32
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Bard College 1270/1450
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bard College Test optional
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Bard College Jan 1, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bard College 9:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bard College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bard College 76%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bard College $41,600
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bard College 81%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bard College $26,194
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bard College $270
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bard College 42%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Bard College 58%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bard College Medium
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Bard College No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Bard College 63%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Bard College 6%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Bard College 8%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bard College 1%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Bard College 1%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bard College 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bard College 0%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Bard College 10%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bard College 11%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bard College 30%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bard College 60%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Bard College Yes
  • Brown Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Bard College No
  • Brown Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Bard College Yes
  • Brown Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Bard College No
  • Brown No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Bard College No
  • Brown No

Comparable Facts

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

Brown University is larger than Bard College based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 2,911 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bard College is located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bard College 9:1; Brown University 6:1.

Bard College vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Brown? 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 Brown University than Bard College ($26,256 vs. $29,320).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 7.5% lower than at Bard College ($17,444 vs. $18,852).
  • Brown University is 7.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bard College (about $4,976 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $66,436.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.5% higher at Brown than at Bard College (about $4,976 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $66,436.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bard College than at Brown University (74% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 11.1% larger than aid received by Bard College students ($61,392 vs. $55,235).

Bard College vs. Brown Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 190 points higher than at Bard College (1360).
  • Incoming Brown students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Bard College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 1270/1450; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 28/32; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bard College - Test optional; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bard College Jan 1, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.1%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.8% at Bard College vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Bard College vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Brown University's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Bard College's (76%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $46,000 more per year than Bard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $11,194 lower median loan debt than Bard College graduates ($15,000 vs. $26,194).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $115 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bard College graduates ($155 vs. $270).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bard College students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 81%)

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.