Bard College vs. Muhlenberg College

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

Bard College Muhlenberg College
Location Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Allentown, PA
Setting Town Fringe Midsize City
Enrollment 2,922 1,818
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #180 #92
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bard.edu muhlenberg.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bard College Muhlenberg College
Tuition (In State) $62,790 $59,505
Tuition (Out of State) $62,790 $59,505
Room & Board $18,040 $13,955
Avg Net Price $25,218 $31,814
Avg Grant Aid $56,380 $42,021
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 99%

Admission

Bard College Muhlenberg College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,628 4,348
Admitted 3,466 2,783
Acceptance Rate 52.3% 64%
Enrolled % 11.6% 15.3%
Avg High School GPA - 3.44
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 30/32 28/31
SAT Range 1290/1440 1230/1400
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 Muhlenberg College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Communication (9%)

Outcomes

Bard College Muhlenberg College
Graduation Rate 76% 86%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $63,700
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 84%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,194 $26,490
Median Loan Payment $270 $273

Diversity

Bard College Muhlenberg College
% Men 6% 1%
% Women 10% 1%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 63% 75%
% Black 8% 3%
% Hispanic 1% 7%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 10% 3%
% Unknown Race 11% 8%

Students

Bard College Muhlenberg College
% In-State 31% 31%
% Out-of-State 59% 68%

Campus

Bard College Muhlenberg College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bard College is larger than than Muhlenberg College based on total student enrollment (2,922 students vs. 1,818 students)

Bard College vs. Muhlenberg College Cost Comparison

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

  • Bard College is 5.5% more expensive to attend than Muhlenberg College for in-state tuition ($62,790.00 vs. $59,505.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.5% higher at Bard College than Muhlenberg College ($62,790.00 vs. $59,505.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bard College than Muhlenberg College ($25,218 vs. $31,814)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Muhlenberg College are 29.3% lower than costs at Bard College ($13,955 vs. $18,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Muhlenberg College than Bard College (99% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 34.2% larger than aid received Muhlenberg College ($56,380 vs. $42,021)

Bard College vs. Muhlenberg College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Muhlenberg College has a higher acceptance rate (64%) than Bard College (52.3%)

Bard College vs. Muhlenberg College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bard College or Muhlenberg 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 Muhlenberg College and Bard College.

  • The graduation rate at Muhlenberg College is higher than Bard College (86% vs. 76%)
  • Graduates from Muhlenberg College earn on average $22,100 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($63,700 vs. $41,600)
  • Bard College students graduate with a $296 lower median federal student loan debt than Muhlenberg College graduates. ($26,194 vs. $26,490)
  • Bard College graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Muhlenberg College graduates. ($270 vs. $273)
  • More Muhlenberg 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/