Colby College vs. Bard College

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

Colby College Bard College
Location Waterville, ME Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
Setting Remote Town Town Fringe
Enrollment 2,284 2,922
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #37 #180
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colby.edu bard.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colby College Bard College
Tuition (In State) $63,790 $62,790
Tuition (Out of State) $63,790 $62,790
Room & Board $17,120 $18,040
Avg Net Price $15,163 $25,218
Avg Grant Aid $66,387 $56,380
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 77%

Admission

Colby College Bard College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,786 6,628
Admitted 1,215 3,466
Acceptance Rate 6.8% 52.3%
Enrolled % 49.8% 11.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 -
Typical High School Grades A- -
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 32/34 30/32
SAT Range 1440/1550 1290/1440
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 1, 2026

Academics

Colby College Bard College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Colby College Bard College
Graduation Rate 91% 76%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $73,400 $41,600
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,345 $26,194
Median Loan Payment $200 $270

Diversity

Colby College Bard College
% Men 0% 6%
% Women 0% 10%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 62% 63%
% Black 3% 8%
% Hispanic 6% 1%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 0%
% International 11% 10%
% Unknown Race 7% 11%

Students

Colby College Bard College
% In-State 7% 31%
% Out-of-State 79% 59%

Campus

Colby College Bard 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 Colby College based on total student enrollment (2,922 students vs. 2,284 students)

Colby College vs. Bard College Cost Comparison

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

  • Colby College is 1.6% more expensive to attend than Bard College for in-state tuition ($63,790.00 vs. $62,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.6% higher at Colby College than Bard College ($63,790.00 vs. $62,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Bard College ($15,163 vs. $25,218)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 5.4% lower than costs at Bard College ($17,120 vs. $18,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bard College than Colby College (77% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 17.7% larger than aid received Bard College ($66,387 vs. $56,380)

Colby College vs. Bard College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Colby College (6.8%)

Colby College vs. Bard College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colby College or Bard 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 Bard College and Colby College.

  • The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than Bard College (91% vs. 76%)
  • Graduates from Colby College earn on average $31,800 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($73,400 vs. $41,600)
  • Colby College students graduate with a $6,849 lower median federal student loan debt than Bard College graduates. ($19,345 vs. $26,194)
  • Colby College graduates are paying $70 less per month on federal student loans than Bard College graduates. ($200 vs. $270)
  • More Colby College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bard College students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 81%)

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