Bard College vs. Lehigh

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

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

Lafayette College Villanova Bucknell Colgate University of Richmond BU Washington and Lee Case Western BC RPI Penn State Stevens
Bard College vs. Lehigh University comparison
Bard College Lehigh University College 3 College 4
Bard College Lehigh University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Bard College Lehigh
Location Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Bethlehem, PA
Setting Town Fringe Small City
Enrollment 2,922 7,590
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #180 #58
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bard.edu lehigh.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Bard College Lehigh
Tuition (In State) $62,790 $61,180
Tuition (Out of State) $62,790 $61,180
Room & Board $18,040 $16,470
Avg Net Price $25,218 $33,289
Avg Grant Aid $56,380 $43,644
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 59%

Admission

 Bard College Lehigh
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,628 18,415
Admitted 3,466 5,389
Acceptance Rate 52.3% 29.3%
Enrolled % 11.6% 28.4%
Avg High School GPA - 3.81
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 30/32 31/33
SAT Range 1290/1440 1350/1490
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 Lehigh
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Business (34%)
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Biology (5%)
  • Psychology (5%)

Outcomes

 Bard College Lehigh
Graduation Rate 76% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $89,200
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,194 $24,256
Median Loan Payment $270 $250

Diversity

 Bard College Lehigh
% Men 6% 12%
% Women 10% 11%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 63% 66%
% Black 8% 4%
% Hispanic 1% 9%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 10% 8%
% Unknown Race 11% 3%

Students

 Bard College Lehigh
% In-State 31% 23%
% Out-of-State 59% 69%

Campus

 Bard College Lehigh
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

  • Lehigh University is larger than than Bard College based on total student enrollment (7,590 students vs. 2,922 students)

Bard College vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Lehigh?

  • Bard College is 2.6% more expensive to attend than Lehigh for in-state tuition ($62,790.00 vs. $61,180.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.6% higher at Bard College than Lehigh University ($62,790.00 vs. $61,180.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bard College than Lehigh ($25,218 vs. $33,289)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 9.5% lower than costs at Bard College ($16,470 vs. $18,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bard College than Lehigh University (77% vs. 59%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 29.2% larger than aid received Lehigh University ($56,380 vs. $43,644)

Bard College vs. Lehigh Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Lehigh (29.3%)

Bard College vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Lehigh is higher than Bard College (87% vs. 76%)
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn on average $47,600 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($89,200 vs. $41,600)
  • Lehigh University students graduate with a $1,938 lower median federal student loan debt than Bard College graduates. ($24,256 vs. $26,194)
  • Lehigh graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than Bard College graduates. ($250 vs. $270)
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bard College students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 81%)

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