Bard College vs. Middlebury

Deciding between Bard College and Middlebury 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
Middlebury College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
  • Middlebury Middlebury, VT
  • Setting
  • Bard College Town Fringe
  • Middlebury Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Bard College 2,911
  • Middlebury 2,803
  • Type
  • Bard College Private 4 Year
  • Middlebury Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bard College #184
  • Middlebury #24
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bard College -
  • Middlebury -
  • Status
  • Bard College Non-profit
  • Middlebury Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bard College
  • Middlebury
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Middlebury $67,600
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Middlebury $67,600
  • Room & Board
  • Bard College $18,852
  • Middlebury $19,250
  • Average Net Price
  • Bard College $29,320
  • Middlebury $26,233
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bard College $55,235
  • Middlebury $59,647
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bard College 74%
  • Middlebury 47%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bard College 7,583
  • Middlebury 12,540
  • Admitted
  • Bard College 3,952
  • Middlebury 1,348
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bard College 52.1%
  • Middlebury 10.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Bard College 12.8%
  • Middlebury 44.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bard College 1360
  • Middlebury 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bard College 30
  • Middlebury 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bard College -
  • Middlebury 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bard College -
  • Middlebury A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bard College Very High
  • Middlebury Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bard College Low
  • Middlebury Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Bard College 28/32
  • Middlebury 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Bard College 1270/1450
  • Middlebury 1445/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bard College Test optional
  • Middlebury Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bard College Jan 1, 2027
  • Middlebury Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bard College 9:1
  • Middlebury 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bard College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Middlebury
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bard College 76%
  • Middlebury 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bard College $41,600
  • Middlebury $72,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bard College 81%
  • Middlebury 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bard College $26,194
  • Middlebury $15,889
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bard College $270
  • Middlebury $164
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bard College 42%
  • Middlebury 46%
  • % Women
  • Bard College 58%
  • Middlebury 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bard College Medium
  • Middlebury Medium
  • HBCU
  • Bard College No
  • Middlebury No
  • % White
  • Bard College 63%
  • Middlebury 65%
  • % Asian
  • Bard College 6%
  • Middlebury 6%
  • % Black
  • Bard College 8%
  • Middlebury 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bard College 1%
  • Middlebury 9%
  • % Native American
  • Bard College 1%
  • Middlebury 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bard College 0%
  • Middlebury 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bard College 0%
  • Middlebury 5%
  • % International
  • Bard College 10%
  • Middlebury 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bard College 11%
  • Middlebury 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bard College 30%
  • Middlebury 5%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bard College 60%
  • Middlebury 77%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Bard College is larger than Middlebury based on total student enrollment (2,911 students vs. 2,803 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bard College is located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting); Middlebury College is in Middlebury, VT (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Middlebury College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bard College 9:1; Middlebury College 8:1.

Bard College vs. Middlebury Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Middlebury? 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 Middlebury College than Bard College ($26,233 vs. $29,320).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bard College are 2.1% lower than at Middlebury College ($18,852 vs. $19,250).
  • Middlebury College is 1.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bard College (about $1,164 more per year; $67,600.00 vs. $66,436.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.8% higher at Middlebury than at Bard College (about $1,164 more per year; $67,600.00 vs. $66,436.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bard College than at Middlebury College (74% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Middlebury College students is 8% larger than aid received by Bard College students ($59,647 vs. $55,235).

Bard College vs. Middlebury Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Middlebury College (1500) is 140 points higher than at Bard College (1360).
  • Incoming Middlebury students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Bard College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 1270/1450; Middlebury College 1445/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 28/32; Middlebury College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bard College - Test optional; Middlebury - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bard College Jan 1, 2027; Middlebury Jan 1, 2027.
  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.1%) than Middlebury (10.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.8% at Bard College vs. 44.4% at Middlebury.

Bard College vs. Middlebury Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Middlebury College's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Bard College's (76%).
  • Graduates from Middlebury College earn a median of about $30,800 more per year than Bard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,400 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Middlebury College graduates have a $10,305 lower median loan debt than Bard College graduates ($15,889 vs. $26,194).
  • Among borrowers, Middlebury graduates have an estimated $106 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bard College graduates ($164 vs. $270).
  • More Middlebury 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.