Bard College vs. Sterling College

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

 Bard College Sterling College
Location Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Craftsbury Common, VT
Setting Town Fringe Remote Rural
Enrollment 2,706 101
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bard.edu sterlingcollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Bard College Sterling College
Tuition (In State) $59,800 $39,000
Tuition (Out of State) $59,800 $39,000
Room & Board $17,180 $10,400
Avg Net Price $25,214 $21,222
Avg Grant Aid $53,584 $31,078
% Receiving Grant Aid 81% 100%

Admission

 Bard College Sterling College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,482 28
Admitted 2,987 26
Acceptance Rate 46.1% 92.9%
Enrolled % 15% 38.5%
Avg High School GPA - 3.1
Typical High School Grades - B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025

Academics

 Bard College Sterling College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (48%)
  • Biology (33%)
  • Agriculture (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

 Bard College Sterling College
Graduation Rate 76% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,194 $17,035
Median Loan Payment $270 $176

Diversity

 Bard College Sterling College
% Men 42% 41%
% Women 58% 59%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 63% 83%
% Black 8% 3%
% Hispanic 1% 3%
% Native American 1% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 0%
% International 10% 3%
% Unknown Race 11% 6%

Students

 Bard College Sterling College
% In-State 31% 22%
% Out-of-State 59% 78%

Campus

 Bard College Sterling College
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

  • Bard College is larger than than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (2,706 students vs. 101 students)

Bard College vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

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

  • Bard College is 53.3% more expensive to attend than Sterling College for in-state tuition ($59,800.00 vs. $39,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 53.3% higher at Bard College than Sterling College ($59,800.00 vs. $39,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sterling College than Bard College ($21,222 vs. $25,214)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 65.2% lower than costs at Bard College ($10,400 vs. $17,180)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sterling College than Bard College (100% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 72.4% larger than aid received Sterling College ($53,584 vs. $31,078)

Bard College vs. Sterling College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Sterling College has a higher acceptance rate (92.9%) than Bard College (46.1%)

Bard College vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Bard College is higher than Sterling College (76% vs. 50%)
  • Sterling College students graduate with a $9,159 lower median federal student loan debt than Bard College graduates. ($17,035 vs. $26,194)
  • Sterling College graduates are paying $94 less per month on federal student loans than Bard College graduates. ($176 vs. $270)
  • More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sterling College students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 74%)

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