Rutgers vs. Barnard

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Barnard College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Barnard Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Barnard #35
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Barnard -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Barnard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Barnard $63,131
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Barnard 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Barnard 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Barnard 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Barnard A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Barnard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Barnard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Barnard 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Barnard 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Barnard 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Barnard $184

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Barnard 2%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Barnard 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Barnard High
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Barnard No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Barnard 53%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Barnard 14%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Barnard 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Barnard 12%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Barnard 6%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Barnard 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Barnard 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Barnard 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Barnard 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Barnard College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Barnard College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Barnard College 10:1.

Rutgers vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Barnard ($20,522 vs. $26,407).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 27.6% lower than at Barnard College ($15,714 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 289.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $51,959 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 86.7% higher at Barnard than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $32,447 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rutgers University New Brunswick than at Barnard College (50% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 277.1% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($63,131 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Barnard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 110 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Barnard students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Barnard College 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Barnard College 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Barnard - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Barnard students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Barnard (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

Rutgers vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Barnard College earn a median of about $700 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,900 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $4,368 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($17,847 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($184 vs. $229).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.