Fairfield University vs. Bard College

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

Fairfield University Bard College
Location Fairfield, CT Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
Setting Large Suburban Town Fringe
Enrollment 6,289 2,922
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #128 #180
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu bard.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University Bard College
Tuition (In State) $55,510 $62,790
Tuition (Out of State) $55,510 $62,790
Room & Board $17,400 $18,040
Avg Net Price $47,630 $25,218
Avg Grant Aid $25,877 $56,380
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 77%

Admission

Fairfield University Bard College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,463 6,628
Admitted 6,956 3,466
Acceptance Rate 45% 52.3%
Enrolled % 20.6% 11.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/32 30/32
SAT Range 1240/1380 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 15, 2026 Jan 1, 2026

Academics

Fairfield University Bard College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University Bard College
Graduation Rate 82% 76%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $41,600
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,194
Median Loan Payment $279 $270

Diversity

Fairfield University Bard College
% Men 7% 6%
% Women 14% 10%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 76% 63%
% Black 2% 8%
% Hispanic 7% 1%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 0%
% International 2% 10%
% Unknown Race 8% 11%

Students

Fairfield University Bard College
% In-State 15% 31%
% Out-of-State 84% 59%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Fairfield University is larger than than Bard College based on total student enrollment (6,289 students vs. 2,922 students)

Fairfield University vs. Bard College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Bard College?

  • Bard College is 13.1% more expensive to attend than Fairfield University for in-state tuition ($62,790.00 vs. $55,510.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.1% higher at Bard College than Fairfield University ($62,790.00 vs. $55,510.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bard College than Fairfield University ($25,218 vs. $47,630)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairfield University are 3.7% lower than costs at Bard College ($17,400 vs. $18,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than Bard College (95% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 117.9% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($56,380 vs. $25,877)

Fairfield University vs. Bard College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Fairfield University (45%)

Fairfield University vs. Bard College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fairfield University 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 Fairfield University.

  • The graduation rate at Fairfield University is higher than Bard College (82% vs. 76%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $35,500 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $41,600)
  • Bard College students graduate with a $806 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($26,194 vs. $27,000)
  • Bard College graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($270 vs. $279)
  • More Fairfield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bard College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 81%)

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