Bard College vs. Skidmore College

Should I go to Bard College or Skidmore College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bard College or Skidmore 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. Skidmore College comparison
Bard College Skidmore College College 3 College 4
Bard College Skidmore College
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Overview

Bard College Skidmore College
Location Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Saratoga Springs, NY
Setting Town Fringe Small Suburban
Enrollment 2,922 2,776
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #180 #52
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bard.edu skidmore.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bard College Skidmore College
Tuition (In State) $62,790 $63,730
Tuition (Out of State) $62,790 $63,730
Room & Board $18,040 $17,340
Avg Net Price $25,218 $32,368
Avg Grant Aid $56,380 $49,522
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 52%

Admission

Bard College Skidmore College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,628 12,144
Admitted 3,466 2,784
Acceptance Rate 52.3% 22.9%
Enrolled % 11.6% 26.4%
Avg High School GPA - 3.75
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 30/32 30/33
SAT Range 1290/1440 1300/1460
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 Skidmore 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%)
  • Social Sciences (19%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
  • Business (10%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Bard College Skidmore College
Graduation Rate 76% 84%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $54,400
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,194 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $270 $201

Diversity

Bard College Skidmore College
% Men 6% 0%
% Women 10% 0%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 63% 64%
% Black 8% 4%
% Hispanic 1% 8%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 4%
% International 10% 10%
% Unknown Race 11% 4%

Students

Bard College Skidmore College
% In-State 31% 33%
% Out-of-State 59% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bard College is larger than than Skidmore College based on total student enrollment (2,922 students vs. 2,776 students)

Bard College vs. Skidmore College Cost Comparison

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

  • Skidmore College is 1.5% more expensive to attend than Bard College for in-state tuition ($63,730.00 vs. $62,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.5% higher at Skidmore College than Bard College ($63,730.00 vs. $62,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bard College than Skidmore College ($25,218 vs. $32,368)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Skidmore College are 4% lower than costs at Bard College ($17,340 vs. $18,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bard College than Skidmore College (77% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 13.8% larger than aid received Skidmore College ($56,380 vs. $49,522)

Bard College vs. Skidmore College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Skidmore College (22.9%)

Bard College vs. Skidmore College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Skidmore College is higher than Bard College (84% vs. 76%)
  • Graduates from Skidmore College earn on average $12,800 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($54,400 vs. $41,600)
  • Skidmore College students graduate with a $6,694 lower median federal student loan debt than Bard College graduates. ($19,500 vs. $26,194)
  • Skidmore College graduates are paying $69 less per month on federal student loans than Bard College graduates. ($201 vs. $270)
  • More Skidmore College 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/