A private college in the public interest.
Bard College seeks to inspire curiosity, a love of learning, idealism, and a commitment to the link between higher education and civic participation.
Photo by Karl Rabe
Commencement 2025
Bard's 165th commencement is on Saturday, May 24.
Join us May 23–25 as we celebrate the Class of 2025.
Alumni/ae returning for Reunion, registration is open.
See you in Annandale!
Alumni/ae returning for Reunion, registration is open.
See you in Annandale!
Bard by the Numbers
Academics at Bard
Academics at Bard focus on giving students a strong scholarly foundation with our core curriculum, then encouraging them to explore individual academic interests.
In the classroom, the level of academic discourse is high, and students are in close contact with scholars who are active in their disciplines alongside teaching. The College provides a beautiful setting in which students pursue their academic interests and craft a rich cultural and social life.
Watch: Annie, a premed biology major at Bard, explores the Reem-Kayden Center for Science and Computation.
Campus Life
Inside and outside the classroom, the focus of student life at Bard College is on campus. From its historic Hudson Valley setting to its state-of-the-art science and arts facilities, the College offers an idyllic environment where students can enjoy a rich social life interwoven with their cultural and intellectual pursuits.
Photo by Jonatha Asiedu ’24
Civic Engagement
Civic engagement is at the core of Bard College’s institutional mission, reflecting the fundamental belief that higher education institutions can and should operate in the public interest. Bard uses its resources to develop partnerships that address local, national, and global problems, reach underserved populations, and tackle critical issues of education and public policy.
What’s New at Bard
CCS Bard Announces Lauren Cornell as Artistic Director and Mariano López Seoane as Director of the Graduate Program and ISLAA Fellow in Latin American Art
The Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College (CCS Bard) announces the evolution of its leadership team through two appointments that further advance the institution’s role as a leading incubator for ideas in the curatorial field.
July 25–August 3: Bard SummerScape Presents First Fully Staged American Production of Smetana’s Opera Dalibor
August 17: Julietta crowns 2025 Bard Music Festival, “Martinů and His World”
Bard College Holds One Hundred Sixty-Fifth Commencement on Saturday, May 24, 2025
Former Prime Minister of Haiti Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis to Give Commencement Address
Photo by Chris Kayden
Arts at Bard
Bard College offers the best of both worlds: a traditional liberal arts college with exceptional programs in the fine and performing arts. In small classes taught by notable faculty, students work closely with top professionals in their fields. All students, whatever their major, are encouraged to take advantage of the College’s high-level arts programming and to cultivate their artistic abilities.
Upcoming Events
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4/25FridaySidelines Redrawn: Re-examining the Role of Marginality in Ancient Greek Literature 9:00 am – 5:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
Olin Humanities, Room 102
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4/25Friday
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4/25FridayState of Fracture: Thesis Exhibition of the MA in Human Rights and the Arts, 2025 3:00 pm – 7:30 pm EDT/GMT-4
Massena Campus
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4/25FridayChamber Music Marathon: Part I 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
Bitó Conservatory Building, Performance Space
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4/25Friday
Explore Bard
Undergraduate Programs
Undergraduate students can earn a bachelor of arts degree in one of approximately 35 programs.
Graduate Programs
Bard’s Graduate Programs offer specialized study in human rights, environmental policy, and more.
Bard Early Colleges
Bard has been a national leader in early college education since 1979.
International Programs
Bard offers its students a wide range of opportunities to engage in international dialogue.
Bard Network
Bard envisions the liberal arts institution as the hub of a network that spans the globe.
Open Society University Network
The Open Society University Network works to integrate higher-ed teaching and research worldwide.