Bard College vs. Oberlin

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

Bard College Oberlin
Location Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Oberlin, OH
Setting Town Fringe Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 2,922 2,976
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #180 #155
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bard.edu oberlin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bard College Oberlin
Tuition (In State) $62,790 $63,700
Tuition (Out of State) $62,790 $63,700
Room & Board $18,040 $18,942
Avg Net Price $25,218 $50,484
Avg Grant Aid $56,380 $33,746
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 99%

Admission

Bard College Oberlin
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,628 11,039
Admitted 3,466 3,641
Acceptance Rate 52.3% 33%
Enrolled % 11.6% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA - 3.67
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 30/32 30/33
SAT Range 1290/1440 1370/1510
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 15, 2026

Academics

Bard College Oberlin
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)

Outcomes

Bard College Oberlin
Graduation Rate 76% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $43,900
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,194 $26,579
Median Loan Payment $270 $274

Diversity

Bard College Oberlin
% Men 6% 0%
% Women 10% 0%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 63% 68%
% Black 8% 5%
% Hispanic 1% 8%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 6%
% International 10% 8%
% Unknown Race 11% 1%

Students

Bard College Oberlin
% In-State 31% 6%
% Out-of-State 59% 84%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Oberlin College is larger than than Bard College based on total student enrollment (2,976 students vs. 2,922 students)

Bard College vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Oberlin?

  • Oberlin College is 1.4% more expensive to attend than Bard College for in-state tuition ($63,700.00 vs. $62,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.4% higher at Oberlin than Bard College ($63,700.00 vs. $62,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bard College than Oberlin ($25,218 vs. $50,484)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bard College are 5% lower than costs at Oberlin College ($18,040 vs. $18,942)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Oberlin College than Bard College (99% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 67.1% larger than aid received Oberlin College ($56,380 vs. $33,746)

Bard College vs. Oberlin Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Oberlin (33%)

Bard College vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Oberlin is higher than Bard College (88% vs. 76%)
  • Graduates from Oberlin College earn on average $2,300 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($43,900 vs. $41,600)
  • Bard College students graduate with a $385 lower median federal student loan debt than Oberlin graduates. ($26,194 vs. $26,579)
  • Bard College graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than Oberlin graduates. ($270 vs. $274)
  • More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bard College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 81%)

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