Bard College vs. SUNY-ESF

Should I go to Bard College or SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bard College or SUNY-ESF 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Wesleyan University Bennington Clark University Marist College Union College Cornell Skidmore College UB Ithaca College RPI Binghamton University UVM
Bard College vs. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry comparison
Bard College SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry College 3 College 4
Bard College SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Bard College SUNY-ESF
Location Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Syracuse, NY
Setting Town Fringe Midsize City
Enrollment 2,922 2,737
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #180 #255
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bard.edu esf.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Bard College SUNY-ESF
Tuition (In State) $62,790 $7,070
Tuition (Out of State) $62,790 $18,900
Room & Board $18,040 $17,780
Avg Net Price $25,218 $19,644
Avg Grant Aid $56,380 $8,675
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 94%

Admission

 Bard College SUNY-ESF
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,628 3,541
Admitted 3,466 2,937
Acceptance Rate 52.3% 82.9%
Enrolled % 11.6% 13.6%
Avg High School GPA - 3.7
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/32 24/30
SAT Range 1290/1440 1130/1300
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

 Bard College SUNY-ESF
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Biology (38%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (37%)
  • Architecture (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Construction Trades (4%)

Outcomes

 Bard College SUNY-ESF
Graduation Rate 76% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $46,200
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,194 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $270 $204

Diversity

 Bard College SUNY-ESF
% Men 6% 6%
% Women 10% 9%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 63% 82%
% Black 8% 1%
% Hispanic 1% 5%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 10% 2%
% Unknown Race 11% 4%

Students

 Bard College SUNY-ESF
% In-State 31% 75%
% Out-of-State 59% 25%

Campus

 Bard College SUNY-ESF
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 SUNY-ESF based on total student enrollment (2,922 students vs. 2,737 students)

Bard College vs. SUNY-ESF Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or SUNY-ESF?

  • Bard College is 788.1% more expensive to attend than SUNY-ESF for in-state tuition ($62,790.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 232.2% higher at Bard College than SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry ($62,790.00 vs. $18,900.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry than Bard College ($19,644 vs. $25,218)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry are 1.5% lower than costs at Bard College ($17,780 vs. $18,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry than Bard College (94% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 549.9% larger than aid received SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry ($56,380 vs. $8,675)

Bard College vs. SUNY-ESF Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • SUNY-ESF has a higher acceptance rate (82.9%) than Bard College (52.3%)

Bard College vs. SUNY-ESF Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bard College or SUNY-ESF? 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 SUNY-ESF and Bard College.

  • The graduation rate at Bard College is higher than SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (76% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry earn on average $4,600 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($46,200 vs. $41,600)
  • SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students graduate with a $6,444 lower median federal student loan debt than Bard College graduates. ($19,750 vs. $26,194)
  • SUNY-ESF graduates are paying $66 less per month on federal student loans than Bard College graduates. ($204 vs. $270)
  • More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY-ESF students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 78%)

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