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Skidmore College Lafayette College St Lawrence University Trinity College Colgate Dickinson College RPI Hamilton College Hobart William Smith Colleges Bucknell Vassar U of R| Bard College | Union College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Bard College | Union College | ||
| Location | Annandale-On-Hudson, NY | Schenectady, NY | ||
| Setting | Town Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,922 | 2,082 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #180 | #87 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bard.edu | union.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Bard College | Union College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $62,790 | $66,105 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $62,790 | $66,105 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,040 | $16,389 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $25,218 | $42,884 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $56,380 | $38,751 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 77% | 94% |
Admission |
Bard College | Union College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,628 | 9,295 | ||
| Admitted | 3,466 | 4,070 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 52.3% | 43.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.6% | 13.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 30/32 | 30/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1290/1440 | 1310/1480 | ||
| 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 | Union College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Bard College | Union College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 76% | 86% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,600 | $74,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 81% | 86% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,194 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $270 | $279 |
Diversity |
Bard College | Union College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 6% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 1% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 63% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 1% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 2% | ||
| % International | 10% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 11% | 0% |
Students |
Bard College | Union College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 31% | 28% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 59% | 63% | ||
Campus |
Bard College | Union 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 Union College based on total student enrollment (2,922 students vs. 2,082 students)
Bard College vs. Union College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Union College?
- Union College is 5.3% more expensive to attend than Bard College for in-state tuition ($66,105.00 vs. $62,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 5.3% higher at Union College than Bard College ($66,105.00 vs. $62,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bard College than Union College ($25,218 vs. $42,884)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union College are 10.1% lower than costs at Bard College ($16,389 vs. $18,040)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Union College than Bard College (94% vs. 77%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 45.5% larger than aid received Union College ($56,380 vs. $38,751)
Bard College vs. Union College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Bard College or Union College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Union College or Bard College .
- Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Union College (43.8%)
Bard College vs. Union College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Bard College or Union 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 Union College and Bard College.
- The graduation rate at Union College is higher than Bard College (86% vs. 76%)
- Graduates from Union College earn on average $32,600 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($74,200 vs. $41,600)
- Bard College students graduate with a $806 lower median federal student loan debt than Union College graduates. ($26,194 vs. $27,000)
- Bard College graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than Union College graduates. ($270 vs. $279)
- More Union College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bard College students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 81%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/