Bard College vs. RPI

Comparable Facts

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

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than Bard College based on total student enrollment (7,040 students vs. 2,911 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bard College is located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
• Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bard College 9:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

Bard College vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or RPI? 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 RPI ($29,320 vs. $38,887).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 3.9% lower than at Bard College ($18,120 vs. $18,852).
• Bard College is 3.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $2,355 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $64,081.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.7% higher at Bard College than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $2,355 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $64,081.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Bard College (95% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 26.9% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($55,235 vs. $43,517).

Bard College vs. RPI Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 80 points higher than at Bard College (1360).
• Incoming RPI students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Bard College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 1270/1450; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 28/32; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bard College - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bard College Jan 1, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
• RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Bard College (52.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.8% at Bard College vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Bard College vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than Bard College's (76%).
• Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $40,900 more per year than Bard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bard College graduates have a $1,306 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($26,194 vs. $27,500).
• Among borrowers, Bard College graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($270 vs. $284).
• More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bard College students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.