BC vs. Bard College

Deciding between Boston College and Bard College? 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.

Boston College
Bard College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Bard College Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Bard College 2,911
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Bard College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Bard College #184
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Bard College -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Bard College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Bard College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Bard College $18,852
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Bard College $29,320
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Bard College $55,235
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Bard College 74%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Bard College 7,583
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Bard College 3,952
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Bard College 52.1%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Bard College 12.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Bard College 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Bard College 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Bard College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Bard College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Bard College Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Bard College Low
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Bard College 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Bard College 1270/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Bard College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Bard College Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Bard College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Bard College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • General Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Bard College 76%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Bard College $41,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Bard College 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Bard College $26,194
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Bard College $270

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Bard College 42%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Bard College 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Bard College Medium
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Bard College No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Bard College 63%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Bard College 6%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Bard College 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Bard College 1%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Bard College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Bard College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Bard College 0%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Bard College 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Bard College 11%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Bard College 30%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Bard College 60%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston College is larger than Bard College based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 2,911 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); Bard College is in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; Bard College 9:1.

BC vs. Bard College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or Bard College? 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 BC ($29,320 vs. $32,519).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bard College are 0.3% lower than at Boston College ($18,852 vs. $18,916).
  • Boston College is 6.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bard College (about $4,266 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $66,436.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.4% higher at BC than at Bard College (about $4,266 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $66,436.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bard College than at Boston College (74% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 3.1% larger than aid received by Bard College students ($56,971 vs. $55,235).

BC vs. Bard College Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston College (1490) is 130 points higher than at Bard College (1360).
  • Incoming BC students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Bard College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Bard College 1270/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Bard College 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Bard College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Bard College Jan 1, 2027.
  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.1%) than BC (16.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 12.8% at Bard College.

BC vs. Bard College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Boston College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Bard College's (76%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $49,300 more per year than Bard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $7,194 lower median loan debt than Bard College graduates ($19,000 vs. $26,194).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bard College graduates ($196 vs. $270).
  • More BC 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.