Barnard College
Barnard College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Barnard College at a Glance
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college in New York City, New York, United States. It is affiliated with Columbia University and was founded in 1889 by a group of women led by young student activist Annie Nathan Meyer, who petitioned Columbia University's trustees to create an affiliated college named after university president Frederick A. P. Barnard. The college is one of the original Seven Sisters—seven liberal arts colleges in the Northeastern United States that were histor…
1889
137 years old
$557M
$557.1 million (2025)
3,442
388
Identity
How to Apply to Barnard College
Official admissions pageIs Barnard College Worth It?
Barnard College delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $28,800/year, it's priced 41% above average, while graduates go on to earn $80,516 — 50% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 93% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
The catch: admission is extremely selective at just 9%, making this an option only for top-tier applicants.
How Barnard College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier in NY
Ranked #15 of 22 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 | Bowdoin College | 100 | $14,398 | $82,735 |
| #2 | Colby College | 100 | $17,180 | $80,490 |
| #3 | Williams College | 100 | $17,716 | $88,665 |
| #4 | Davidson College | 100 | $17,379 | $81,400 |
| #5 | Rice University | 100 | $13,370 | $89,718 |
| #6 | Pomona College | 94 | $19,285 | $77,779 |
| #15 | Barnard College | 65 | $28,800 | $80,516 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Barnard College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 3 in NY.
Best Programs at Barnard College
The highest-earning program at Barnard College is Economics at $68,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Urban Studies/Affairs at $33,800/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Economics graduate from Barnard College earns $68,100, while a Urban Studies/Affairs graduate earns $33,800. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Economics graduates carry $16,250 in median debt vs. $19,000 for Urban Studies/Affairs.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $28,800/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
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | $68,100 | $68,100 | $16,250 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $46,300 | $46,300 | $18,000 |
| Psychology, General | $44,000 | $44,000 | $15,538 |
| Sociology | $43,800 | $43,800 | N/A |
| Political Science and Government | $42,600 | $42,600 | $21,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $39,500 | $39,500 | $16,250 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $33,800 | $33,800 | $19,000 |
Similar Colleges in NY
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- New York, NY
- Student Body
- 3,264 students
- Admission Rate
- 9%
- Graduation Rate
- 93%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $28,800
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $80,516
- Median Student Debt
- $18,000