MHC vs. Barnard

Deciding between Mount Holyoke College and Barnard 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
Barnard College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Setting
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Barnard Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • MHC 2,275
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Type
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MHC #81
  • Barnard #35
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MHC -
  • Barnard -
  • Status
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MHC
  • Barnard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Room & Board
  • MHC $19,684
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Average Net Price
  • MHC $32,526
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MHC $52,418
  • Barnard $63,131
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MHC 77%
  • Barnard 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MHC 5,226
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Admitted
  • MHC 1,883
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MHC 36%
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MHC 1460
  • Barnard 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • MHC 33
  • Barnard 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • MHC 3.87
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MHC A
  • Barnard A
  • Admissions Standards
  • MHC Elite
  • Barnard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • MHC High
  • Barnard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • MHC 32/35
  • Barnard 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MHC Test optional
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MHC 9:1
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MHC 85%
  • Barnard 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MHC $50,000
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MHC 77%
  • Barnard 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MHC $21,206
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MHC $219
  • Barnard $184

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MHC 1%
  • Barnard 2%
  • % Women
  • MHC 99%
  • Barnard 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MHC Very High
  • Barnard High
  • HBCU
  • MHC No
  • Barnard No
  • % White
  • MHC 45%
  • Barnard 53%
  • % Asian
  • MHC 10%
  • Barnard 14%
  • % Black
  • MHC 6%
  • Barnard 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • MHC 8%
  • Barnard 12%
  • % Native American
  • MHC 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MHC 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MHC 4%
  • Barnard 6%
  • % International
  • MHC 26%
  • Barnard 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MHC 1%
  • Barnard 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MHC 19%
  • Barnard 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MHC 63%
  • Barnard 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA with Barnard College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Barnard College is larger than MHC based on total student enrollment (3,487 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Barnard College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; Barnard College 10:1.

MHC vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC or Barnard? 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 Barnard College than MHC ($26,407 vs. $32,526).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Holyoke College are 9.3% lower than at Barnard College ($19,684 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MHC (about $2,870 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at Barnard than at Mount Holyoke College (about $2,870 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at Barnard College (77% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 20.4% larger than aid received by Mount Holyoke College students ($63,131 vs. $52,418).

MHC vs. Barnard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MHC or Barnard? 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 Barnard and MHC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 60 points higher than at MHC (1460).
  • Incoming MHC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 33) as students at Barnard (33).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530; Barnard College 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 32/35; Barnard College 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MHC - Test optional; Barnard - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027; Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MHC students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Barnard (3.85).
  • MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than Barnard (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

MHC vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MHC and Barnard? 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).

  • Barnard College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Mount Holyoke College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Barnard College earn a median of about $16,900 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,900 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $3,359 lower median loan debt than MHC graduates ($17,847 vs. $21,206).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MHC graduates ($184 vs. $219).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.