Bard College vs. Columbia

Should I go to Bard College or Columbia University in the City of New York? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bard College or Columbia 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. Columbia University in the City of New York comparison
Bard College Columbia University in the City of New York College 3 College 4
Bard College Columbia University in the City of New York
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Overview

Bard College Columbia
Location Annandale-On-Hudson, NY New York, NY
Setting Town Fringe Large City
Enrollment 2,922 35,279
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #180 #22
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bard.edu columbia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bard College Columbia
Tuition (In State) $62,790 $65,340
Tuition (Out of State) $62,790 $65,340
Room & Board $18,040 $16,800
Avg Net Price $25,218 $20,869
Avg Grant Aid $56,380 $65,173
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 52%

Admission

Bard College Columbia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,628 57,613
Admitted 3,466 2,439
Acceptance Rate 52.3% 4.2%
Enrolled % 11.6% 63.1%
Avg High School GPA - 3.91
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 30/32 34/35
SAT Range 1290/1440 1490/1570
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 1, 2026

Academics

Bard College Columbia
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Bard College Columbia
Graduation Rate 76% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $107,600
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,194 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $270 $222

Diversity

Bard College Columbia
% Men 6% 33%
% Women 10% 42%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 38%
% Black 8% 8%
% Hispanic 1% 13%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 5%
% International 10% 15%
% Unknown Race 11% 3%

Students

Bard College Columbia
% In-State 31% 19%
% Out-of-State 59% 64%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than Bard College based on total student enrollment (35,279 students vs. 2,922 students)

Bard College vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Columbia?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 4.1% more expensive to attend than Bard College for in-state tuition ($65,340.00 vs. $62,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.1% higher at Columbia than Bard College ($65,340.00 vs. $62,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than Bard College ($20,869 vs. $25,218)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 7.4% lower than costs at Bard College ($16,800 vs. $18,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bard College than Columbia University in the City of New York (77% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 15.6% larger than aid received Bard College ($65,173 vs. $56,380)

Bard College vs. Columbia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Columbia (4.2%)

Bard College vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Bard College (93% vs. 76%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $66,000 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $41,600)
  • Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $4,694 lower median federal student loan debt than Bard College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,194)
  • Columbia graduates are paying $48 less per month on federal student loans than Bard College graduates. ($222 vs. $270)
  • More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 76%)

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