Bard College vs. Canisius

Should I go to Bard College or Canisius College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bard College or Canisius 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. Canisius College comparison
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Bard College Canisius College
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Overview

Bard College Canisius
Location Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Buffalo, NY
Setting Town Fringe Large City
Enrollment 2,922 2,545
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #180 #389
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bard.edu canisius.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bard College Canisius
Tuition (In State) $62,790 $31,100
Tuition (Out of State) $62,790 $31,100
Room & Board $18,040 $13,160
Avg Net Price $25,218 $19,321
Avg Grant Aid $56,380 $22,779
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 100%

Admission

Bard College Canisius
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,628 4,147
Admitted 3,466 3,391
Acceptance Rate 52.3% 81.8%
Enrolled % 11.6% 12.5%
Avg High School GPA - 3.7
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/32 22/28
SAT Range 1290/1440 1050/1320
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2026

Academics

Bard College Canisius
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%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (9%)

Outcomes

Bard College Canisius
Graduation Rate 76% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $49,900
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,194 $24,750
Median Loan Payment $270 $255

Diversity

Bard College Canisius
% Men 6% 12%
% Women 10% 17%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 63% 73%
% Black 8% 8%
% Hispanic 1% 6%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 1%
% International 10% 4%
% Unknown Race 11% 4%

Students

Bard College Canisius
% In-State 31% 75%
% Out-of-State 59% 18%

Campus

Bard College Canisius
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

  • Bard College is larger than than Canisius based on total student enrollment (2,922 students vs. 2,545 students)

Bard College vs. Canisius Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Canisius?

  • Bard College is 101.9% more expensive to attend than Canisius for in-state tuition ($62,790.00 vs. $31,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 101.9% higher at Bard College than Canisius College ($62,790.00 vs. $31,100.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Canisius College than Bard College ($19,321 vs. $25,218)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Canisius College are 37.1% lower than costs at Bard College ($13,160 vs. $18,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Canisius College than Bard College (100% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 147.5% larger than aid received Canisius College ($56,380 vs. $22,779)

Bard College vs. Canisius Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Canisius has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than Bard College (52.3%)

Bard College vs. Canisius Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Bard College is higher than Canisius College (76% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from Canisius College earn on average $8,300 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($49,900 vs. $41,600)
  • Canisius College students graduate with a $1,444 lower median federal student loan debt than Bard College graduates. ($24,750 vs. $26,194)
  • Canisius graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Bard College graduates. ($255 vs. $270)
  • More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Canisius students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 71%)

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