Bard College vs. Villanova

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

Bard College Villanova
Location Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Villanova, PA
Setting Town Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,922 10,111
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #180 #65
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bard.edu villanova.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bard College Villanova
Tuition (In State) $62,790 $63,806
Tuition (Out of State) $62,790 $63,806
Room & Board $18,040 $16,896
Avg Net Price $25,218 $37,946
Avg Grant Aid $56,380 $42,948
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 47%

Admission

Bard College Villanova
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,628 23,127
Admitted 3,466 5,810
Acceptance Rate 52.3% 25.1%
Enrolled % 11.6% 29.9%
Avg High School GPA - 3.87
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 30/32 32/34
SAT Range 1290/1440 1400/1510
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 Villanova
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Bard College Villanova
Graduation Rate 76% 90%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $85,100
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 90%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,194 $26,497
Median Loan Payment $270 $273

Diversity

Bard College Villanova
% Men 6% 14%
% Women 10% 16%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 63% 74%
% Black 8% 5%
% Hispanic 1% 8%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 10% 2%
% Unknown Race 11% 1%

Students

Bard College Villanova
% In-State 31% 20%
% Out-of-State 59% 77%

Campus

Bard College Villanova
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Villanova University is larger than than Bard College based on total student enrollment (10,111 students vs. 2,922 students)

Bard College vs. Villanova Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Villanova?

  • Villanova University is 1.6% more expensive to attend than Bard College for in-state tuition ($63,806.00 vs. $62,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.6% higher at Villanova than Bard College ($63,806.00 vs. $62,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bard College than Villanova ($25,218 vs. $37,946)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Villanova University are 6.8% lower than costs at Bard College ($16,896 vs. $18,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bard College than Villanova University (77% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 31.3% larger than aid received Villanova University ($56,380 vs. $42,948)

Bard College vs. Villanova Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Villanova (25.1%)

Bard College vs. Villanova Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bard College or Villanova? 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 Villanova and Bard College.

  • The graduation rate at Villanova is higher than Bard College (90% vs. 76%)
  • Graduates from Villanova University earn on average $43,500 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($85,100 vs. $41,600)
  • Bard College students graduate with a $303 lower median federal student loan debt than Villanova graduates. ($26,194 vs. $26,497)
  • Bard College graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Villanova graduates. ($270 vs. $273)
  • More Villanova graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bard College students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 81%)

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