MHC vs. Barnard

Mount Holyoke College and Barnard College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Mount Holyoke College
Barnard College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Barnard (8.8% admitted vs 36%). Typical SAT 1520 vs 1460.
  • Cheaper after aid: Barnard. Average net price is $26,407 vs $32,526 at MHC.
  • Graduation: MHC 85% vs Barnard 92%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: MHC $50,000 vs Barnard $66,900 (median).
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Key differences

Mount Holyoke College Barnard College
Acceptance rate
Barnard more selective
MHC36%
Barnard8.8%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Barnard higher
MHC1380-1530
Barnard1470-1560
Average net price
Barnard $6,119 less
MHC$32,526
Barnard$26,407
In-state tuition
MHC $2,870 less
MHC$67,018
Barnard$69,888
Out-of-state tuition
MHC $2,870 less
MHC$67,018
Barnard$69,888
Graduation rate
Barnard +7 pts
MHC85%
Barnard92%
Median earnings (10 years)
Barnard +$16,900
MHC$50,000
Barnard$66,900

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • MHC 5,226
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Admitted
  • MHC 1,883
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Acceptance rate
  • MHC 36%
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MHC 1460
  • Barnard 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • MHC 33
  • Barnard 33
  • Average high school GPA
  • MHC 3.87
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Typical high school grades
  • MHC A
  • Barnard A
  • Admissions standards
  • MHC Elite
  • Barnard Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • MHC High
  • Barnard Extreme
  • SAT range
  • MHC 1380-1530
  • Barnard 1470-1560
  • ACT range
  • MHC 32-35
  • Barnard 32-34
  • Submit test scores
  • MHC Test optional
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Room & board
  • MHC $19,684
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Average net price
  • MHC $32,526
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Average grant aid
  • MHC $52,418
  • Barnard $63,131
  • % receiving grant aid
  • MHC 77%
  • Barnard 33%
  • Graduation rate
  • MHC 85%
  • Barnard 92%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • MHC $50,000
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Making student loan payments
  • MHC 77%
  • Barnard 89%
  • Median student loan debt
  • MHC $21,206
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Median loan payment
  • MHC $219
  • Barnard $184
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • MHC 9:1
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Popular majors
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Location
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Setting
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Barnard Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • MHC 2,275
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Type
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • MHC #81
  • Barnard #35

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA with Barnard College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Barnard College is larger than MHC based on total student enrollment (3,487 students vs. 2,275 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Barnard College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; Barnard College 10:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Holyoke College are 9.3% lower than at Barnard College ($19,684 vs. $21,714).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at Barnard than at Mount Holyoke College (about $2,870 more per year; $69,888 vs. $67,018).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at Barnard College (77% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 20.4% larger than aid received by Mount Holyoke College students ($63,131 vs. $52,418).

Admissions details

  • Incoming MHC students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 33) as students at Barnard (33).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both MHC and Barnard.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027; Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at MHC average a 3.87 high school GPA, 0.02 higher than at Barnard (3.85).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $3,359 lower median loan debt than MHC graduates ($17,847 vs. $21,206).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MHC graduates ($184 vs. $219).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 77%).

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

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