Bard College vs. Fisk University

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

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Bard College vs. Fisk University comparison
Bard College Fisk University College 3 College 4
Bard College Fisk University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Bard College Fisk University
Location Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Nashville, TN
Setting Town Fringe Large City
Enrollment 2,922 1,005
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #180 #600
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bard.edu fisk.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bard College Fisk University
Tuition (In State) $62,790 $22,320
Tuition (Out of State) $62,790 $22,320
Room & Board $18,040 $11,698
Avg Net Price $25,218 $19,836
Avg Grant Aid $56,380 $20,400
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 96%

Admission

Bard College Fisk University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,628 7,982
Admitted 3,466 4,622
Acceptance Rate 52.3% 57.9%
Enrolled % 11.6% 6.9%
Avg High School GPA - 3.1
Typical High School Grades - B
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 30/32 20/25
SAT Range 1290/1440 1160/1480
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 Aug 1, 2026

Academics

Bard College Fisk University
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 (21%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Psychology (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Physical Sciences (9%)

Outcomes

Bard College Fisk University
Graduation Rate 76% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $35,900
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 38%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,194 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $270 $268

Diversity

Bard College Fisk University
% Men 6% 1%
% Women 10% 4%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 63% 1%
% Black 8% 88%
% Hispanic 1% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 1%
% International 10% 0%
% Unknown Race 11% 6%

Students

Bard College Fisk University
% In-State 31% 30%
% Out-of-State 59% 57%

Campus

Bard College Fisk University
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 Fisk University based on total student enrollment (2,922 students vs. 1,005 students)

Bard College vs. Fisk University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Fisk University?

  • Bard College is 181.3% more expensive to attend than Fisk University for in-state tuition ($62,790.00 vs. $22,320.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 181.3% higher at Bard College than Fisk University ($62,790.00 vs. $22,320.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fisk University than Bard College ($19,836 vs. $25,218)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fisk University are 54.2% lower than costs at Bard College ($11,698 vs. $18,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fisk University than Bard College (96% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 176.4% larger than aid received Fisk University ($56,380 vs. $20,400)

Bard College vs. Fisk University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Fisk University has a higher acceptance rate (57.9%) than Bard College (52.3%)

Bard College vs. Fisk University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bard College or Fisk 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 Fisk University and Bard College.

  • The graduation rate at Bard College is higher than Fisk University (76% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Bard College earn on average $5,700 more per year than Fisk University graduates after ten years. ($41,600 vs. $35,900)
  • Fisk University students graduate with a $194 lower median federal student loan debt than Bard College graduates. ($26,000 vs. $26,194)
  • Fisk University graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Bard College graduates. ($268 vs. $270)
  • More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fisk University students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 38%)

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