Bard College vs. F&M

Deciding between Bard College and Franklin and Marshall College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Bard College
Franklin and Marshall College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • Setting
  • Bard College Town Fringe
  • F&M Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bard College 2,911
  • F&M 1,808
  • Type
  • Bard College Private 4 Year
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bard College #184
  • F&M #60
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bard College -
  • F&M -
  • Status
  • Bard College Non-profit
  • F&M Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bard College
  • F&M

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bard College $66,436
  • F&M $70,794
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bard College $66,436
  • F&M $70,794
  • Room & Board
  • Bard College $18,852
  • F&M $16,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Bard College $29,320
  • F&M $43,987
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bard College $55,235
  • F&M $41,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bard College 74%
  • F&M 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bard College 7,583
  • F&M 9,881
  • Admitted
  • Bard College 3,952
  • F&M 2,785
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bard College 52.1%
  • F&M 28.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Bard College 12.8%
  • F&M 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bard College 1360
  • F&M 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bard College 30
  • F&M 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bard College -
  • F&M -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bard College -
  • F&M -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bard College Very High
  • F&M Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bard College Low
  • F&M High
  • ACT Range
  • Bard College 28/32
  • F&M 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Bard College 1270/1450
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bard College Test optional
  • F&M Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bard College Jan 1, 2027
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bard College 9:1
  • F&M 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bard College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bard College 76%
  • F&M 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bard College $41,600
  • F&M $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bard College 81%
  • F&M 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bard College $26,194
  • F&M $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bard College $270
  • F&M $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bard College 42%
  • F&M 49%
  • % Women
  • Bard College 58%
  • F&M 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bard College Medium
  • F&M High
  • HBCU
  • Bard College No
  • F&M No
  • % White
  • Bard College 63%
  • F&M 59%
  • % Asian
  • Bard College 6%
  • F&M 5%
  • % Black
  • Bard College 8%
  • F&M 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bard College 1%
  • F&M 8%
  • % Native American
  • Bard College 1%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bard College 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bard College 0%
  • F&M 2%
  • % International
  • Bard College 10%
  • F&M 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bard College 11%
  • F&M 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bard College 30%
  • F&M 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bard College 60%
  • F&M 55%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Bard College Yes
  • F&M Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Bard College No
  • F&M No
  • Meal Plan
  • Bard College Yes
  • F&M Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Bard College No
  • F&M No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Bard College No
  • F&M No

Comparable Facts

Compare Bard College in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY with Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bard College is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (2,911 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bard College is located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting); Franklin and Marshall College is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
  • Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bard College 9:1; Franklin and Marshall College 9:1.

Bard College vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or F&M? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bard College than F&M ($29,320 vs. $43,987).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 14.1% lower than at Bard College ($16,188 vs. $18,852).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 6.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bard College (about $4,358 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $66,436.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.6% higher at F&M than at Bard College (about $4,358 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $66,436.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than at Bard College (80% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 31.8% larger than aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students ($55,235 vs. $41,901).

Bard College vs. F&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bard College or F&M? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between F&M and Bard College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franklin and Marshall College (1390) is 30 points higher than at Bard College (1360).
  • Incoming F&M students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Bard College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 1270/1450; Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 28/32; Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bard College - Test optional; F&M - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bard College Jan 1, 2027; F&M Jan 15, 2027.
  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.1%) than F&M (28.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.8% at Bard College vs. 17.1% at F&M.

Bard College vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bard College and F&M? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Franklin and Marshall College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Bard College's (76%).
  • Graduates from Franklin and Marshall College earn a median of about $20,300 more per year than Bard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin and Marshall College graduates have a $4,194 lower median loan debt than Bard College graduates ($22,000 vs. $26,194).
  • Among borrowers, F&M graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bard College graduates ($227 vs. $270).
  • More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bard College students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 81%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.