Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Bard College #1451 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $33,567 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 1.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Bard College #924 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflecting strong outcomes for a student population that includes a substantial share of Pell Grant recipients and first-generation students. --- Bard College's Azimuth ranking reflects its distinctive balance of creative-arts focus and broad-access mission. The institution's mobility performance stands out among liberal arts colleges serving similar student populations.
Azimuth ranks Bard College #1451 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Bard College is a private baccalaureate college in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, enrolling approximately 2,414 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 84.6% freshman retention rate and a 67.6% six-year graduation rate, reflecting solid student persistence and degree completion outcomes. Bard College draws strength from its distinctive academic mission centered on Visual & Performing Arts. Azimuth ranks Bard College #1424 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $45,380, and earn about $33,567 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Bard College in the 1.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the college's ability to position students from its arts-focused curriculum into sustainable career pathways. Access and affordability shape the remaining pillars of the composite. Bard College enrolls 16.7% Pell-eligible undergraduates and 12.2% first-generation students, sitting in the 35.2 percentile for access and the 10.1 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For prospective students drawn to the arts and humanities with strong academic preparation, Bard College offers a cohesive educational experience grounded in creative inquiry and intellectual community.
Bard College's published cost of attendance is $84,553. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $19,012, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $21,038, middle-income families pay about $22,139, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $28,185, and higher-income families pay around $44,873. Azimuth ranks Bard College #1281 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Bard College meets demonstrated financial need in full for admitted students under its current financial aid policy. The aid structure is need-based, with no merit component; families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The net price illusion explains how published sticker price and actual net price can differ substantially — a distinction that matters especially at institutions with substantial endowment-backed aid like Bard College. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,254, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $29,734; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at Bard College's median four-year earnings of $45,380, median federal debt of $24,254 projects to a monthly payment of about $274 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Bard College is a strong fit for students drawn to the visual and performing arts who seek a private liberal arts college experience in NY's Hudson Valley region. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $45,380, placing Bard College in the 2.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $33,567 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 1.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a notable share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 16.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 12.2% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $44,873, with median federal debt at graduation of $24,254. Fit depends on alignment with Visual & Performing Arts programs (36% of degrees) and the college's selective 52.1% admit rate. Students seeking an arts-focused education with strong graduate outcomes will find Bard delivers meaningful returns relative to NY's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,204.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Bard College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Bard College's published cost of attendance is $84,553. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $19,012, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $21,038, middle-income families pay about $22,139, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $28,185, and higher-income families pay around $44,873.
Azimuth ranks Bard College #1281 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Bard College meets demonstrated financial need in full for admitted students under its current financial aid policy. The aid structure is need-based, with no merit component; families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
The [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) explains how published sticker price and actual net price can differ substantially — a distinction that matters especially at institutions with substantial endowment-backed aid like Bard College. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,254, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $29,734; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at Bard College's median four-year earnings of $45,380, median federal debt of $24,254 projects to a monthly payment of about $274 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Bard College earn median 4-year earnings of $45,380, placing Bard College in the 2.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $33,567 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Bard College in the 1.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Bard College #1424 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Bard College's distinctive program portfolio.
Fine and Studio Arts is the largest program with 138 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $34,667, representing 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. The Social Sciences program graduates 125 students earning $48,751, and the The Biological and The Physical Sciences program graduates 77 students earning $64,518.
The concentration in Visual & Performing Arts — which anchors the institution's degree output — shapes both the earnings distribution and the career pathways available to graduates. English Language and Literature/Letters, Other and Music round out the top programs, each contributing to the institution's overall economic profile.
Biological and Physical Sciences
77 graduates
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other
70 graduates
Social Sciences, General
125 graduates
Fine and Studio Arts
138 graduates
Bard College's program mix is anchored in visual and performing arts, humanities, and social sciences—a signature aligned with the institution's liberal arts identity and creative focus. Fine and Studio Arts is the largest program with 138 graduates, followed by Social Sciences, Biological and Physical Sciences, English Language and Literature/Letters, Other, and Music.
The institution's Visual & Performing Arts concentration reflects a distinctive curricular emphasis that shapes both the student experience and post-graduation career pathways. Median earnings four years after enrollment vary across Bard College's programs, with the highest-earning fields anchoring professional and applied disciplines.
Biological and Physical Sciences graduates earn median earnings of $64,518 four years after enrollment, while English Language and Literature/Letters, Other graduates earn $50,402 and Social Sciences graduates earn $48,751. These earnings patterns reflect the institution's positioning as a liberal arts college where career outcomes depend substantially on field selection and post-graduate specialization choices.
The earnings distribution across Bard College's programs illustrates the trade-offs inherent in a creative and humanities-focused curriculum. Students pursuing Fine and Studio Arts and Social Sciences—the institution's largest cohorts—enter fields where four-year earnings reflect early-career positioning in creative industries, nonprofit work, or graduate-school-dependent pathways.
By contrast, students in applied and professional fields see stronger early earnings, though these cohorts are smaller. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Bard College's dominant program families align with labor-market demand and long-term career sustainability.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Hampshire College Higher acceptance rate (18.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 74 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 70% | $46,938 | Compare |
Suny At Purchase College Higher acceptance rate (20.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 68 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 73% | $45,092 | Compare |
Marymount Manhattan College Higher acceptance rate (26.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 87 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 79% | $49,131 | Compare |
Point Park University Higher acceptance rate (45.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 98% | $45,856 | Compare |
Savannah College Of Art And Design Higher acceptance rate (31.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | GA | 84% | $45,954 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marymount Manhattan College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36260 ranked) | NY | 83% | $49,131 | #36260 | Compare |
Ringling College Of Art And Design Similar quality tier (#36259 ranked) | FL | 70% | $43,325 | #36259 | Compare |
College For Creative Studies Similar quality tier (#36253 ranked) | MI | 92% | $44,860 | #36253 | Compare |
University Of Puget Sound Similar quality tier (#36247 ranked) | WA | 72% | $69,594 | #36247 | Compare |
Wilson College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36244 ranked) | PA | 92% | $43,326 | #36244 | Compare |
