The New England Conservatory of Music vs. Bard College

Comparable Facts

Compare The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, 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 The New England Conservatory of Music based on total student enrollment (2,911 students vs. 853 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• The New England Conservatory of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Bard College is in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting).
• The New England Conservatory of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The New England Conservatory of Music 5:1; Bard College 9:1.

The New England Conservatory of Music vs. Bard College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, The New England Conservatory of Music 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 The New England Conservatory of Music ($29,320 vs. $50,367).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bard College are 5.8% lower than at The New England Conservatory of Music ($18,852 vs. $20,010).
• Bard College is 9.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than The New England Conservatory of Music (about $5,686 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $60,750.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.4% higher at Bard College than at The New England Conservatory of Music (about $5,686 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $60,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The New England Conservatory of Music than at Bard College (98% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 79.9% larger than aid received by The New England Conservatory of Music students ($55,235 vs. $30,707).

The New England Conservatory of Music vs. Bard College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, The New England Conservatory of Music 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 The New England Conservatory of Music.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsBard College 1270/1450.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsBard College 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: The New England Conservatory of Music - Test-free; Bard College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: The New England Conservatory of Music Dec 1, 2026; Bard College Jan 1, 2027.
• Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.1%) than The New England Conservatory of Music (41.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.5% at The New England Conservatory of Music vs. 12.8% at Bard College.

The New England Conservatory of Music vs. Bard College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for The New England Conservatory of Music 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).

• The New England Conservatory of Music's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Bard College's (76%).
• Graduates from Bard College earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than The New England Conservatory of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $36,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bard College graduates have a $2,806 lower median loan debt than The New England Conservatory of Music graduates ($26,194 vs. $29,000).
• Among borrowers, Bard College graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than The New England Conservatory of Music graduates ($270 vs. $299).
• More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The New England Conservatory of Music 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.