Bard College
Bard College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Bard College at a Glance
Bard College is a private liberal arts college in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, United States. The campus overlooks the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains within the Hudson River Historic District and is a National Historic Landmark.
1860
166 years old
$1.1B
$1,064,525,802
2,303
2,186 undergrad · 117 grad
231
1,260 acres
Identity
Is Bard College Worth It?
At a value score of 24/100, Bard College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $46,543 — 13% below average — while paying $34,649/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
With a 3-year payback period, most graduates recoup their total cost of attendance relatively quickly.
The 70% graduation rate means roughly 30% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
With median debt of $24,254 representing 52% of first-year earnings, loan repayment will be a significant burden for most graduates.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Bard College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Bard College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #16 of 29 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Bob Jones University | 45 | $16,641 | $44,354 |
| #2 | St. Francis College | 43 | $18,129 | $58,099 |
| #3 | Alma College | 42 | $20,694 | $54,742 |
| #4 | Ohio Wesleyan University | 40 | $20,897 | $55,624 |
| #5 | Ranken Technical College | 39 | $18,795 | $55,955 |
| #6 | Mary Baldwin University | 37 | $12,756 | $44,427 |
| #16 | Bard College | 24 | $34,649 | $46,543 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Bard College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in NY.
Best Programs at Bard College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Bard College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $34,649/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in NY
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
- Student Body
- 2,414 students
- Admission Rate
- 52%
- Graduation Rate
- 70%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $34,649
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $46,543
- Median Student Debt
- $24,254