Bard College vs. Olin College

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

Bard College Olin College
Location Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Needham, MA
Setting Town Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,922 402
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #180
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bard.edu olin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bard College Olin College
Tuition (In State) $62,790 $59,972
Tuition (Out of State) $62,790 $59,972
Room & Board $18,040 $19,820
Avg Net Price $25,218 $40,370
Avg Grant Aid $56,380 $41,116
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 100%

Admission

Bard College Olin College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,628 928
Admitted 3,466 201
Acceptance Rate 52.3% 21.7%
Enrolled % 11.6% 48.8%
Avg High School GPA - 3.9
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 30/32 34/35
SAT Range 1290/1440 1480/1560
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 Olin College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Engineering (100%)

Outcomes

Bard College Olin College
Graduation Rate 76% 96%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 81% -
Median Student Loan Debt $26,194 $14,710
Median Loan Payment $270 $152

Diversity

Bard College Olin College
% Men 6% 4%
% Women 10% 3%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 53%
% Black 8% 0%
% Hispanic 1% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 7%
% International 10% 8%
% Unknown Race 11% 11%

Students

Bard College Olin College
% In-State 31% 12%
% Out-of-State 59% 79%

Campus

Bard College Olin College
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

  • Bard College is larger than than Olin College based on total student enrollment (2,922 students vs. 402 students)

Bard College vs. Olin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Olin College?

  • Bard College is 4.7% more expensive to attend than Olin College for in-state tuition ($62,790.00 vs. $59,972.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.7% higher at Bard College than Olin College of Engineering ($62,790.00 vs. $59,972.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bard College than Olin College ($25,218 vs. $40,370)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bard College are 9.9% lower than costs at Olin College of Engineering ($18,040 vs. $19,820)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Olin College of Engineering than Bard College (100% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 37.1% larger than aid received Olin College of Engineering ($56,380 vs. $41,116)

Bard College vs. Olin College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Olin College (21.7%)

Bard College vs. Olin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Olin College is higher than Bard College (96% vs. 76%)
  • Olin College of Engineering students graduate with a $11,484 lower median federal student loan debt than Bard College graduates. ($14,710 vs. $26,194)
  • Olin College graduates are paying $118 less per month on federal student loans than Bard College graduates. ($152 vs. $270)

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