MHC vs. Bard College

Deciding between Mount Holyoke 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.

Mount Holyoke College
Bard College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
  • Setting
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Bard College Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • MHC 2,275
  • Bard College 2,911
  • Type
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • Bard College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MHC #81
  • Bard College #184
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MHC -
  • Bard College -
  • Status
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Bard College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MHC
  • Bard College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Room & Board
  • MHC $19,684
  • Bard College $18,852
  • Average Net Price
  • MHC $32,526
  • Bard College $29,320
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MHC $52,418
  • Bard College $55,235
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MHC 77%
  • Bard College 74%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MHC 5,226
  • Bard College 7,583
  • Admitted
  • MHC 1,883
  • Bard College 3,952
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MHC 36%
  • Bard College 52.1%
  • Enrolled
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Bard College 12.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MHC 1460
  • Bard College 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • MHC 33
  • Bard College 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • MHC 3.87
  • Bard College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MHC A
  • Bard College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • MHC Elite
  • Bard College Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • MHC High
  • Bard College Low
  • ACT Range
  • MHC 32/35
  • Bard College 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Bard College 1270/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MHC Test optional
  • Bard College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027
  • Bard College Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MHC 9:1
  • Bard College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (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
  • MHC 85%
  • Bard College 76%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MHC $50,000
  • Bard College $41,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MHC 77%
  • Bard College 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MHC $21,206
  • Bard College $26,194
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MHC $219
  • Bard College $270

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MHC 1%
  • Bard College 42%
  • % Women
  • MHC 99%
  • Bard College 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MHC Very High
  • Bard College Medium
  • HBCU
  • MHC No
  • Bard College No
  • % White
  • MHC 45%
  • Bard College 63%
  • % Asian
  • MHC 10%
  • Bard College 6%
  • % Black
  • MHC 6%
  • Bard College 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • MHC 8%
  • Bard College 1%
  • % Native American
  • MHC 0%
  • Bard College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MHC 0%
  • Bard College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MHC 4%
  • Bard College 0%
  • % International
  • MHC 26%
  • Bard College 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MHC 1%
  • Bard College 11%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MHC 19%
  • Bard College 30%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MHC 63%
  • Bard College 60%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA with Bard College in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bard College is larger than MHC based on total student enrollment (2,911 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Bard College is in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting).
  • Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; Bard College 9:1.

MHC vs. Bard College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC 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 MHC ($29,320 vs. $32,526).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bard College are 4.2% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($18,852 vs. $19,684).
  • Mount Holyoke College is 0.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bard College (about $582 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $66,436.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.9% higher at MHC than at Bard College (about $582 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $66,436.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at Bard College (77% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 5.4% larger than aid received by Mount Holyoke College students ($55,235 vs. $52,418).

MHC vs. Bard College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MHC 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 MHC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Mount Holyoke College (1460) is 100 points higher than at Bard College (1360).
  • Incoming MHC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Bard College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530; Bard College 1270/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 32/35; Bard College 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MHC - Test optional; Bard College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027; Bard College Jan 1, 2027.
  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.1%) than MHC (36%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 12.8% at Bard College.

MHC vs. Bard College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MHC 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).

  • Mount Holyoke College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Bard College's (76%).
  • Graduates from Mount Holyoke College earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than Bard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,000 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Holyoke College graduates have a $4,988 lower median loan debt than Bard College graduates ($21,206 vs. $26,194).
  • Among borrowers, MHC graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bard College graduates ($219 vs. $270).
  • More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 77%)

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.