Bard College vs. RIT

Comparable Facts

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

Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than Bard College based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 2,911 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bard College is located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting); Rochester Institute of Technology is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bard College 9:1; Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1.

Bard College vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or RIT ? 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 RIT ($29,320 vs. $39,534).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 14.4% lower than at Bard College ($16,142 vs. $18,852).
• Bard College is 12.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIT (about $7,162 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $59,274.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.1% higher at Bard College than at Rochester Institute of Technology (about $7,162 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $59,274.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at Bard College (98% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 57.5% larger than aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students ($55,235 vs. $35,077).

Bard College vs. RIT Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rochester Institute of Technology (1380) is 20 points higher than at Bard College (1360).
• Incoming RIT students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Bard College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 1270/1450; Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 28/32; Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bard College - Test optional; RIT - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bard College Jan 1, 2027; RIT Jan 15, 2027.
• RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than Bard College (52.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.8% at Bard College vs. 16.3% at RIT .

Bard College vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Bard College's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
• Graduates from Rochester Institute of Technology earn a median of about $23,300 more per year than Bard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,900 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bard College graduates have a $1,806 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($26,194 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Bard College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($270 vs. $289).
• More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 75%)

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.