Bard College vs. Ithaca College

Deciding between Bard College and Ithaca 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
Ithaca College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
  • Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • Bard College Town Fringe
  • Ithaca College Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Bard College 2,911
  • Ithaca College 4,767
  • Type
  • Bard College Private 4 Year
  • Ithaca College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bard College #184
  • Ithaca College #163
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bard College -
  • Ithaca College -
  • Status
  • Bard College Non-profit
  • Ithaca College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bard College
  • Ithaca College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Room & Board
  • Bard College $18,852
  • Ithaca College $16,192
  • Average Net Price
  • Bard College $29,320
  • Ithaca College $35,253
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bard College $55,235
  • Ithaca College $33,450
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bard College 74%
  • Ithaca College 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bard College 7,583
  • Ithaca College 12,400
  • Admitted
  • Bard College 3,952
  • Ithaca College 8,557
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bard College 52.1%
  • Ithaca College 69%
  • Enrolled
  • Bard College 12.8%
  • Ithaca College 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bard College 1360
  • Ithaca College 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bard College 30
  • Ithaca College 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bard College -
  • Ithaca College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bard College -
  • Ithaca College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bard College Very High
  • Ithaca College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bard College Low
  • Ithaca College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Bard College 28/32
  • Ithaca College 27/30
  • SAT Range
  • Bard College 1270/1450
  • Ithaca College 1230/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bard College Test optional
  • Ithaca College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bard College Jan 1, 2027
  • Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bard College 9:1
  • Ithaca College 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bard College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Ithaca College
    • Communication (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bard College 76%
  • Ithaca College 74%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bard College $41,600
  • Ithaca College $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bard College 81%
  • Ithaca College 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bard College $26,194
  • Ithaca College $25,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bard College $270
  • Ithaca College $266
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bard College 42%
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • % Women
  • Bard College 58%
  • Ithaca College 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bard College Medium
  • Ithaca College Low
  • HBCU
  • Bard College No
  • Ithaca College No
  • % White
  • Bard College 63%
  • Ithaca College 71%
  • % Asian
  • Bard College 6%
  • Ithaca College 4%
  • % Black
  • Bard College 8%
  • Ithaca College 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bard College 1%
  • Ithaca College 8%
  • % Native American
  • Bard College 1%
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bard College 0%
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bard College 0%
  • Ithaca College 3%
  • % International
  • Bard College 10%
  • Ithaca College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bard College 11%
  • Ithaca College 7%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bard College 30%
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bard College 60%
  • Ithaca College 55%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Ithaca College is larger than Bard College based on total student enrollment (4,767 students vs. 2,911 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bard College is located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting); Ithaca College is in Ithaca, NY (Small Suburban setting).
  • Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ithaca College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bard College 9:1; Ithaca College 10:1.

Bard College vs. Ithaca College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Ithaca College? 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 Ithaca College ($29,320 vs. $35,253).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ithaca College are 14.1% lower than at Bard College ($16,192 vs. $18,852).
  • Bard College is 24.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ithaca College (about $12,896 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $53,540.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.1% higher at Bard College than at Ithaca College (about $12,896 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $53,540.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ithaca College than at Bard College (100% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 65.1% larger than aid received by Ithaca College students ($55,235 vs. $33,450).

Bard College vs. Ithaca College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bard College or Ithaca College? 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 Ithaca College and Bard College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bard College (1360) is 50 points higher than at Ithaca College (1310).
  • Incoming Bard College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Ithaca College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 1270/1450; Ithaca College 1230/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 28/32; Ithaca College 27/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bard College - Test optional; Ithaca College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bard College Jan 1, 2027; Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027.
  • Ithaca College has a higher acceptance rate (69%) than Bard College (52.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.8% at Bard College vs. 12.3% at Ithaca College.

Bard College vs. Ithaca College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bard College and Ithaca College? 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).

  • Bard College's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Ithaca College's (74%).
  • Graduates from Ithaca College earn a median of about $14,500 more per year than Bard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ithaca College graduates have a $444 lower median loan debt than Bard College graduates ($25,750 vs. $26,194).
  • Among borrowers, Ithaca College graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bard College graduates ($266 vs. $270).
  • More Ithaca College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bard College students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.