Bard College vs. Union College

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

Bard College Union College
Location Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Schenectady, NY
Setting Town Fringe Small City
Enrollment 2,706 2,107
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #76
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bard.edu union.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bard College Union College
Tuition (In State) $59,800 $63,603
Tuition (Out of State) $59,800 $63,603
Room & Board $17,180 $15,768
Avg Net Price $25,214 $41,136
Avg Grant Aid $53,584 $37,530
% Receiving Grant Aid 81% 93%

Admission

Bard College Union College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,482 8,458
Admitted 2,987 3,934
Acceptance Rate 46.1% 46.5%
Enrolled % 15% 14.6%
Avg High School GPA - 3.5
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/33
SAT Range 1310/1490
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Bard College Union College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)

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 42% 55%
% Women 58% 45%
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 (2,706 students vs. 2,107 students)

Bard College vs. Union College Cost Comparison

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

  • Union College is 6.4% more expensive to attend than Bard College for in-state tuition ($63,603.00 vs. $59,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.4% higher at Union College than Bard College ($63,603.00 vs. $59,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bard College than Union College ($25,214 vs. $41,136)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union College are 9% lower than costs at Bard College ($15,768 vs. $17,180)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Union College than Bard College (93% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 42.8% larger than aid received Union College ($53,584 vs. $37,530)

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 .

  • Union College has a higher acceptance rate (46.5%) than Bard College (46.1%)

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/