Bard College vs. Mason

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

Bard College Mason
Location Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Fairfax, VA
Setting Town Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,922 39,527
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #180 #239
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bard.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bard College Mason
Tuition (In State) $62,790 $10,095
Tuition (Out of State) $62,790 $35,677
Room & Board $18,040 $15,151
Avg Net Price $25,218 $18,900
Avg Grant Aid $56,380 $11,311
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 72%

Admission

Bard College Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,628 22,579
Admitted 3,466 20,057
Acceptance Rate 52.3% 88.8%
Enrolled % 11.6% 22.2%
Avg High School GPA - 3.68
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/32 25/30
SAT Range 1290/1440 1140/1340
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 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Bard College Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

Bard College Mason
Graduation Rate 76% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,194 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $270 $204

Diversity

Bard College Mason
% Men 6% 13%
% Women 10% 17%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 43%
% Black 8% 11%
% Hispanic 1% 13%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 5%
% International 10% 5%
% Unknown Race 11% 5%

Students

Bard College Mason
% In-State 31% 77%
% Out-of-State 59% 16%

Campus

Bard College Mason
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

  • George Mason University is larger than than Bard College based on total student enrollment (39,527 students vs. 2,922 students)

Bard College vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Mason?

  • Bard College is 522% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($62,790.00 vs. $10,095.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 76% higher at Bard College than George Mason University ($62,790.00 vs. $35,677.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Bard College ($18,900 vs. $25,218)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 19.1% lower than costs at Bard College ($15,151 vs. $18,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bard College than George Mason University (77% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 398.5% larger than aid received George Mason University ($56,380 vs. $11,311)

Bard College vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than Bard College (52.3%)

Bard College vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Bard College is higher than George Mason University (76% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $20,300 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $41,600)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $6,444 lower median federal student loan debt than Bard College graduates. ($19,750 vs. $26,194)
  • Mason graduates are paying $66 less per month on federal student loans than Bard College graduates. ($204 vs. $270)
  • More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 73%)

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