Bard College vs. Buffalo State College

Deciding between Bard College and SUNY Buffalo State University? 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.

Bard College
SUNY Buffalo State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
  • Buffalo State College Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • Bard College Town Fringe
  • Buffalo State College Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bard College 2,911
  • Buffalo State College 6,188
  • Type
  • Bard College Private 4 Year
  • Buffalo State College Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bard College #184
  • Buffalo State College #545
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bard College -
  • Buffalo State College -
  • Status
  • Bard College Non-profit
  • Buffalo State College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bard College
  • Buffalo State College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Buffalo State College $8,533
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Buffalo State College $19,653
  • Room & Board
  • Bard College $18,852
  • Buffalo State College $15,986
  • Average Net Price
  • Bard College $29,320
  • Buffalo State College $12,023
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bard College $55,235
  • Buffalo State College $11,697
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bard College 74%
  • Buffalo State College 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bard College 7,583
  • Buffalo State College 18,219
  • Admitted
  • Bard College 3,952
  • Buffalo State College 13,290
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bard College 52.1%
  • Buffalo State College 72.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Bard College 12.8%
  • Buffalo State College 9.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bard College 1360
  • Buffalo State College 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bard College 30
  • Buffalo State College
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bard College -
  • Buffalo State College 2.84
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bard College -
  • Buffalo State College B-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bard College Very High
  • Buffalo State College Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bard College Low
  • Buffalo State College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Bard College 28/32
  • Buffalo State College
  • SAT Range
  • Bard College 1270/1450
  • Buffalo State College 980/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bard College Test optional
  • Buffalo State College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bard College Jan 1, 2027
  • Buffalo State College
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bard College 9:1
  • Buffalo State College 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bard College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Buffalo State College
    • Education (26%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bard College 76%
  • Buffalo State College 47%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bard College $41,600
  • Buffalo State College $40,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bard College 81%
  • Buffalo State College 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bard College $26,194
  • Buffalo State College $21,409
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bard College $270
  • Buffalo State College $221
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bard College 42%
  • Buffalo State College 41%
  • % Women
  • Bard College 58%
  • Buffalo State College 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bard College Medium
  • Buffalo State College High
  • HBCU
  • Bard College No
  • Buffalo State College No
  • % White
  • Bard College 63%
  • Buffalo State College 51%
  • % Asian
  • Bard College 6%
  • Buffalo State College 3%
  • % Black
  • Bard College 8%
  • Buffalo State College 28%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bard College 1%
  • Buffalo State College 12%
  • % Native American
  • Bard College 1%
  • Buffalo State College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bard College 0%
  • Buffalo State College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bard College 0%
  • Buffalo State College 3%
  • % International
  • Bard College 10%
  • Buffalo State College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bard College 11%
  • Buffalo State College 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bard College 30%
  • Buffalo State College 94%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bard College 60%
  • Buffalo State College 4%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Bard College Yes
  • Buffalo State College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Bard College No
  • Buffalo State College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Bard College Yes
  • Buffalo State College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Bard College No
  • Buffalo State College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Bard College No
  • Buffalo State College Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Bard College in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY with SUNY Buffalo State University in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

SUNY Buffalo State University is larger than Bard College based on total student enrollment (6,188 students vs. 2,911 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bard College is located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting); SUNY Buffalo State University is in Buffalo, NY (Large City setting).
  • Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY Buffalo State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bard College 9:1; SUNY Buffalo State University 14:1.

Bard College vs. Buffalo State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Buffalo State 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 SUNY Buffalo State University than Bard College ($12,023 vs. $29,320).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY Buffalo State University are 15.2% lower than at Bard College ($15,986 vs. $18,852).
  • Bard College is 678.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Buffalo State College (about $57,903 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $8,533.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 238% higher at Bard College than at SUNY Buffalo State University (about $46,783 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $19,653.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY Buffalo State University than at Bard College (100% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 372.2% larger than aid received by SUNY Buffalo State University students ($55,235 vs. $11,697).

Bard College vs. Buffalo State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bard College or Buffalo State 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 Buffalo State College and Bard College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bard College (1360) is 250 points higher than at Buffalo State College (1110).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 1270/1450; SUNY Buffalo State University 980/1240.
  • 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; Buffalo State College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bard College Jan 1, 2027.
  • Buffalo State College has a higher acceptance rate (72.9%) than Bard College (52.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.8% at Bard College vs. 9.2% at Buffalo State College.

Bard College vs. Buffalo State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bard College and Buffalo State 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).

  • Bard College's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than SUNY Buffalo State University's (47%).
  • Graduates from Bard College earn a median of about $900 more per year than Buffalo State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $40,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY Buffalo State University graduates have a $4,785 lower median loan debt than Bard College graduates ($21,409 vs. $26,194).
  • Among borrowers, Buffalo State College graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bard College graduates ($221 vs. $270).
  • More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Buffalo State College students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 59%)

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.