Bard College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

Compare Bard College in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY with Penn State Wilkes Barre in Dallas, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bard College is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (2,911 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bard College is located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting); Penn State Wilkes Barre is in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bard College 9:1; Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1.

Bard College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes Barre than Bard College ($16,621 vs. $29,320).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 19% lower than at Bard College ($15,274 vs. $18,852).
• Bard College is 365.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $52,156 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 176.7% higher at Bard College than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $42,430 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at Bard College (89% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 467% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($55,235 vs. $9,742).

Bard College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bard College or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Bard College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bard College (1360) is 150 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 1270/1450; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bard College - Test optional; Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bard College Jan 1, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Bard College (52.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.8% at Bard College vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Bard College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bard College and Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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).

• Bard College's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Wilkes Barre earn a median of about $13,700 more per year than Bard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bard College graduates have a $624 lower median loan debt than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($26,194 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Bard College graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($270 vs. $277).
• More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 69%)

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.