Bard College vs. Penn

Bard College and University of Pennsylvania side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Bard College
University of Pennsylvania

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Penn (5.4% admitted vs 52.1%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1360.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn. Average net price is $23,570 vs $29,320 at Bard College.
  • Graduation: Bard College 76% vs Penn 96%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Bard College $41,600 vs Penn $123,600 (median).
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Key differences

Bard College University of Pennsylvania
Acceptance rate
Penn more selective
Bard College52.1%
Penn5.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Penn higher
Bard College1270-1450
Penn1510-1570
Average net price
Penn $5,750 less
Bard College$29,320
Penn$23,570
In-state tuition
Bard College $2,250 less
Bard College$66,436
Penn$68,686
Out-of-state tuition
Bard College $2,250 less
Bard College$66,436
Penn$68,686
Graduation rate
Penn +20 pts
Bard College76%
Penn96%
Median earnings (10 years)
Penn +$82,000
Bard College$41,600
Penn$123,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Bard College 7,583
  • Penn 65,226
  • Admitted
  • Bard College 3,952
  • Penn 3,523
  • Acceptance rate
  • Bard College 52.1%
  • Penn 5.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Bard College 12.8%
  • Penn 68%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bard College 1360
  • Penn 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bard College 30
  • Penn 35
  • Average high school GPA
  • Bard College -
  • Penn 3.95
  • Typical high school grades
  • Bard College -
  • Penn A
  • Admissions standards
  • Bard College Very High
  • Penn Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Bard College Low
  • Penn Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Bard College 1270-1450
  • Penn 1510-1570
  • ACT range
  • Bard College 28-32
  • Penn 34-36
  • Submit test scores
  • Bard College Test optional
  • Penn Required
  • Application deadline
  • Bard College Jan 1, 2027
  • Penn Jan 5, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Penn $68,686
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Penn $68,686
  • Room & board
  • Bard College $18,852
  • Penn $19,174
  • Average net price
  • Bard College $29,320
  • Penn $23,570
  • Average grant aid
  • Bard College $55,235
  • Penn $65,458
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Bard College 74%
  • Penn 51%
  • Graduation rate
  • Bard College 76%
  • Penn 96%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Bard College $41,600
  • Penn $123,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • Bard College 81%
  • Penn 84%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Bard College $26,194
  • Penn $20,633
  • Median loan payment
  • Bard College $270
  • Penn $213
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Bard College 9:1
  • Penn 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • Bard College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Penn
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Location
  • Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
  • Penn Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • Bard College Town Fringe
  • Penn Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bard College 2,911
  • Penn 29,109
  • Type
  • Bard College Private 4 Year
  • Penn Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Bard College #184
  • Penn #23

Comparable Facts

Compare Bard College in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY with University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Bard College based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 2,911 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bard College is located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bard College 9:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bard College are 1.7% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($18,852 vs. $19,174).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.4% higher at Penn than at Bard College (about $2,250 more per year; $68,686 vs. $66,436).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bard College than at University of Pennsylvania (74% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 18.5% larger than aid received by Bard College students ($65,458 vs. $55,235).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at Penn than at Bard College (35 vs. 30, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Bard College, required at Penn.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bard College Jan 1, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.8% at Bard College vs. 68% at Penn.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $5,561 lower median loan debt than Bard College graduates ($20,633 vs. $26,194).
  • Among borrowers, Penn graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bard College graduates ($213 vs. $270).
  • More Penn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bard College students, three years after graduation (84% vs. 81%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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