Bard College Admission Requirements

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Bard College is 52.3%.  Its admission rate is the 33rd lowest in New York.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Bard College and can you get accepted?

Bard College is a more competitive school to get into. You have a good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission criteria. Last year, 3,466 out of the 6,628 who applied were admitted.

Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top quarter of their high school class. 12% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into Bard College?

52% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to Bard College you should:

• Score 1370 on the SAT
• Score 31 on the ACT
• Graduate in the top 25% of your high school class

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Bard College has not reported high school GPA data for its accepted students.

Testing Requirements

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Bard College. If you optionally submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 13% of students submitted SAT scores and 9% submitted ACT scores for admission for the most recent academic year..

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to Bard College?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at Bard College is 1370 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1290-1440. Students who get into Bard College score in the top 13 percent of all SAT test takers..  Bard College ranks #20 in the state of New York and #122 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1370 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. Bard College regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1290 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1290, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 1210, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

Bard College is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1370 SAT score range.

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1365, you have around a 52% chance of being admitted. A 1440 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 67% chance of getting in.

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into Bard College?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to Bard College is 31, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 30 and 32.  The school ranks #12 in New York and #101 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 31. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 30 and score in the score in the top 7 percent nationally.

9 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Bard College.

Score Submission Requirements

You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as Bard College is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into Bard College for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 31 score has around 52% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 67% with a 32 ACT score.

High School Class Rank

68% of Bard College freshman are in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class and 34% are in the top ten percent.

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Fall 2025 Application Deadline

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Bard College is $0. The school is free to apply to.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Bard College and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Credits Accepted