More selective than 81% of New York colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
13% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 9% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Bard College over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
Bard College SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, Bard College is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 650 | 750 |
| SAT math | 620 | 700 |
| ACT composite | 28 | 32 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1270 | 1450 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
Bard College admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 52% | 650–750 | 620–700 | 28–32 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 52% | 670–740 | 620–700 | 30–32 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is Bard College compared with other New York colleges?
Bard College has the 27th-lowest acceptance rate of 140 New York colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Syracuse University | 46% | 84% | $38,793 |
| 24 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 48% | 72% | $3,033 |
| 25 | Jewish Theological Seminary of America | 49% | 90% | $43,195 |
| 26 | Stony Brook University | 49% | 76% | $18,784 |
| 27 | Bard College | 52% | 68% | $34,649 |
| 28 | Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 53% | 68% | $29,882 |
| 29 | Beth Medrash Meor Yitzchok | 53% | 21% | $13,376 |
| 30 | Russell Sage College | 53% | 56% | $22,917 |
| 31 | CUNY Hunter College | 54% | 57% | $2,984 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All New York colleges →
Who enrolls at Bard College
College Scorecard; IPEDS
Bard College admissions questions
What is the Bard College acceptance rate?
Bard College accepts 52% of applicants, about 1 in 2. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 3,466 of 6,628 applicants were admitted.
Does Bard College require the SAT or ACT?
Bard College considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 13% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 9% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for Bard College?
The middle 50% of Bard College enrolled first-year students scored 1270–1450 on the SAT and 28–32 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at Bard College?
12% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (402 of 3,466).
Is Bard College getting harder to get into?
Bard College accepted 52% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 52% for Fall 2023.
Is Bard College the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Bard College overview