Bard College vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Bard College and Syracuse University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Bard College
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Bard College Town Fringe
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bard College 2,911
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Bard College Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bard College #184
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bard College -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Bard College Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bard College
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Bard College $18,852
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Bard College $29,320
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bard College $55,235
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bard College 74%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bard College 7,583
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Bard College 3,952
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bard College 52.1%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Bard College 12.8%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bard College 1360
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bard College 30
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bard College -
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bard College -
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bard College Very High
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bard College Low
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Bard College 28/32
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Bard College 1270/1450
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bard College Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bard College Jan 1, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bard College 9:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bard College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bard College 76%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bard College $41,600
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bard College 81%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bard College $26,194
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bard College $270
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bard College 42%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Bard College 58%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bard College Medium
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Bard College No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Bard College 63%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Bard College 6%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Bard College 8%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bard College 1%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Bard College 1%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bard College 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bard College 0%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Bard College 10%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bard College 11%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bard College 30%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bard College 60%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Bard College Yes
  • Syracuse Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Bard College No
  • Syracuse No
  • Meal Plan
  • Bard College Yes
  • Syracuse Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Bard College No
  • Syracuse Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Bard College No
  • Syracuse Yes

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than Bard College based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 2,911 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bard College is located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bard College 9:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

Bard College vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Syracuse? 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 Syracuse ($29,320 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bard College are 1.8% lower than at Syracuse University ($18,852 vs. $19,188).
  • Bard College is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $908 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.4% higher at Bard College than at Syracuse University (about $908 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Bard College (76% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 51.7% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($55,235 vs. $36,417).

Bard College vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bard College (1360) is the same as at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Bard College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Syracuse (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 1270/1450; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 28/32; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bard College - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bard College Jan 1, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.1%) than Syracuse (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.8% at Bard College vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Bard College vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Syracuse University's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Bard College's (76%).
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn a median of about $24,300 more per year than Bard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,900 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bard College graduates have a $806 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($26,194 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Bard College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($270 vs. $279).
  • More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 80%)

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.