Bard College vs. Dakota Wesleyan University

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

Bard College Dakota Wesleyan University
Location Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Mitchell, SD
Setting Town Fringe Remote Town
Enrollment 2,922 886
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #180
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bard.edu dwu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bard College Dakota Wesleyan University
Tuition (In State) $62,790 $31,700
Tuition (Out of State) $62,790 $31,700
Room & Board $18,040 $7,600
Avg Net Price $25,218 $21,901
Avg Grant Aid $56,380 $20,598
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 100%

Admission

Bard College Dakota Wesleyan University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,628 1,153
Admitted 3,466 839
Acceptance Rate 52.3% 72.8%
Enrolled % 11.6% 21.9%
Avg High School GPA - 3.36
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Very High Average
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 30/32 18/24
SAT Range 1290/1440 950/1420
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 Aug 27, 2026

Academics

Bard College Dakota Wesleyan University
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Health Professions (37%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

Bard College Dakota Wesleyan University
Graduation Rate 76% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $38,200
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,194 $26,533
Median Loan Payment $270 $274

Diversity

Bard College Dakota Wesleyan University
% Men 6% 7%
% Women 10% 6%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 63% 88%
% Black 8% 2%
% Hispanic 1% 3%
% Native American 1% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 10% 2%
% Unknown Race 11% 0%

Students

Bard College Dakota Wesleyan University
% In-State 31% 61%
% Out-of-State 59% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bard College is larger than than Dakota Wesleyan University based on total student enrollment (2,922 students vs. 886 students)

Bard College vs. Dakota Wesleyan University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Dakota Wesleyan University?

  • Bard College is 98.1% more expensive to attend than Dakota Wesleyan University for in-state tuition ($62,790.00 vs. $31,700.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 98.1% higher at Bard College than Dakota Wesleyan University ($62,790.00 vs. $31,700.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dakota Wesleyan University than Bard College ($21,901 vs. $25,218)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota Wesleyan University are 137.4% lower than costs at Bard College ($7,600 vs. $18,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Dakota Wesleyan University than Bard College (100% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 173.7% larger than aid received Dakota Wesleyan University ($56,380 vs. $20,598)

Bard College vs. Dakota Wesleyan University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Dakota Wesleyan University has a higher acceptance rate (72.8%) than Bard College (52.3%)

Bard College vs. Dakota Wesleyan University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bard College or Dakota Wesleyan University? 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 Dakota Wesleyan University and Bard College.

  • The graduation rate at Bard College is higher than Dakota Wesleyan University (76% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Bard College earn on average $3,400 more per year than Dakota Wesleyan University graduates after ten years. ($41,600 vs. $38,200)
  • Bard College students graduate with a $339 lower median federal student loan debt than Dakota Wesleyan University graduates. ($26,194 vs. $26,533)
  • Bard College graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than Dakota Wesleyan University graduates. ($270 vs. $274)
  • More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dakota Wesleyan University 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/