Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
RIT St Lawrence University RPI Syracuse UB Binghamton University Wesleyan University Bennington Union College Clark University Marist College UVM| Bard College | Clarkson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Bard College | Clarkson | ||
| Location | Annandale-On-Hudson, NY | Potsdam, NY | ||
| Setting | Town Fringe | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 2,922 | 3,603 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #180 | #183 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bard.edu | clarkson.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Bard College | Clarkson | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $62,790 | $56,642 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $62,790 | $56,642 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,040 | $17,016 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $25,218 | $33,192 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $56,380 | $43,097 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 77% | 100% |
Admission |
Bard College | Clarkson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,628 | 7,347 | ||
| Admitted | 3,466 | 5,669 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 52.3% | 77.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.6% | 10.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.8 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 30/32 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1290/1440 | 1198/1390 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Bard College | Clarkson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 12:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Bard College | Clarkson | ||
| Graduation Rate | 76% | 72% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,600 | $70,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 81% | 86% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,194 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $270 | $279 |
Diversity |
Bard College | Clarkson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 6% | 17% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 13% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 63% | 84% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 2% | ||
| % International | 10% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 11% | 2% |
Students |
Bard College | Clarkson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 31% | 65% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 59% | 29% | ||
Campus |
Bard College | Clarkson | ||
| 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
- Clarkson University is larger than than Bard College based on total student enrollment (3,603 students vs. 2,922 students)
Bard College vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Clarkson?
- Bard College is 10.9% more expensive to attend than Clarkson for in-state tuition ($62,790.00 vs. $56,642.00)
- Out of state tuition is 10.9% higher at Bard College than Clarkson University ($62,790.00 vs. $56,642.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bard College than Clarkson ($25,218 vs. $33,192)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 6% lower than costs at Bard College ($17,016 vs. $18,040)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Bard College (100% vs. 77%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 30.8% larger than aid received Clarkson University ($56,380 vs. $43,097)
Bard College vs. Clarkson Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Bard College or Clarkson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Clarkson or Bard College .
- Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than Bard College (52.3%)
Bard College vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Bard College or Clarkson? 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 Clarkson and Bard College.
- The graduation rate at Bard College is higher than Clarkson University (76% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $29,200 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $41,600)
- Bard College students graduate with a $806 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($26,194 vs. $27,000)
- Bard College graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($270 vs. $279)
- More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bard College students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 81%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/