Rutgers vs. Bard College

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Bard College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Bard College Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Bard College 2,911
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Bard College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Bard College #184
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Bard College -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Bard College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Bard College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Bard College $18,852
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Bard College $29,320
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Bard College $55,235
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Bard College 74%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Bard College 7,583
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Bard College 3,952
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Bard College 52.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Bard College 12.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Bard College 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Bard College 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Bard College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Bard College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Bard College Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Bard College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Bard College 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Bard College 1270/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Bard College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Bard College Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Bard College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • 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
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Bard College 76%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Bard College $41,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Bard College 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Bard College $26,194
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Bard College $270

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Bard College 42%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Bard College 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Bard College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Bard College No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Bard College 63%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Bard College 6%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Bard College 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Bard College 1%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Bard College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Bard College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Bard College 0%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Bard College 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Bard College 11%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Bard College 30%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Bard College 60%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Bard College in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Bard College based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 2,911 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Bard College is in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Bard College 9:1.

Rutgers vs. Bard College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Bard College ($20,522 vs. $29,320).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 16.6% lower than at Bard College ($15,714 vs. $18,852).
  • Bard College is 270.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $48,507 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 77.4% higher at Bard College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $28,995 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bard College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (74% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 229.9% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($55,235 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Bard College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 50 points higher than at Bard College (1360).
  • Incoming Rutgers students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Bard College (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Bard College 1270/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Bard College 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Bard College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bard College Jan 1, 2027.
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Bard College (52.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 12.8% at Bard College.

Rutgers vs. Bard College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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).

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Bard College's (76%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $24,600 more per year than Bard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $3,979 lower median loan debt than Bard College graduates ($22,215 vs. $26,194).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bard College graduates ($229 vs. $270).
  • More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 68%)

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.