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Undergraduate Admission

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Applying to Bard
Ways to Visit 
You love to learn. You've always asked the difficult questions.
Now you wonder where college can take you. If you're ready to refine your talents and find what inspires you, then you've come to the right place. Explore Bard's rich academic tradition and vibrant campus life. Think beyond what is known to seek what is possible.
Ways to Visit Bard
Photo by Karl Rabe

Ways to Visit Bard

We are offering a variety of ways to visit campus: in-person campus tours, self-guided walking tours, audio-guided driving tours, and live virtual tours. 

Go here for more information

In-Person Fall Open House for Prospective Students and Their Families 

Saturday, October 9, 2021

The day centers around activities that allow students and their families to explore the campus and experience the excitement of Bard College classes.
All prospective students are allowed to invite up to two guests to the In-Person Fall Open House.
SPACE IS LIMITED! Registration is Required.

Open House Schedule and Registration



NOTE: There will be virtual evening events October 11–15, 2021. More information will be posted soon!

  • Schedule
    Check-in is at the Reem-Kayden Center between 9:00 and 9:30 am ET. From there students will be directed to their classes in the Olin Humanities Building. All other visitors will attend a Q&A in Olin Auditorium with Leon Botstein, president of the College. The classes and Q&A will be followed by themed tours and info sessions. Lunch will be served and representatives from student-life offices will be available to answer your questions. Fall Open House will conclude with 20 minute drop-in tours of Residence Halls, Athletic facilities, and Dance, Theater, and Performance spaces. The day ends at 3:00pm ET.
    View the Schedule
  • Registration
    COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination is Required. Upon registration, you will receive information on how to submit your COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination. The approval process can take 24-48 hours if registration is submitted during weekdays, and longer if submitted on weekends. Precautionary measures for children under 12 years of age: Because children under 12 are not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations, they are only permitted outdoors when visiting the Bard campus. Please note that most of Bard's Fall Open House events take place inside buildings on campus. As a result, it is recommended that they do not attend this event.
    Start Your Registration

Register now for Bard's Immediate Decision Plan 

A unique early application process!

Click below for more information and to register for Bard's Immediate Decision Plan application process.

Learn More + Register

Support for Afghan Students
American University of Afghanistan (AUAf) students study in the library prior to class.
U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Laura K. Smith, ISAF Public Affairs

Support for Afghan Students

Bard College is working to find safe havens for displaced Afghan students and graduates. The College has offered to immediately take in as many as 100 students in Annandale, as well as threatened scholars. The American University of Central Asia in Kyrgyzstan, a Bard partner, is offering scholarships through the Open Society University Network (OSUN) to up to 120 graduates in addition to its 120 Afghan undergraduates, and a home to another 100 or more students from the American University of Afghanistan. Several other OSUN partners have stepped forward and offered to take students and faculty through OSUN’s Threatened Scholars program.

Learn More + Apply

Did You Know?

  • Bard College has been test optional for nearly 50 years.
    You do not need to take the SAT or ACT to apply to Bard.

    THERE IS NO APPLICATION FEE TO APPLY TO BARD COLLEGE.
Why We Don't Give “Merit Aid”
Photo by Karl Rabe

Why We Don't Give “Merit Aid”

The College is a need-based aid only institution and prioritizes its financial aid for students who could not afford to enroll without the College’s support.

Bard College is devoted to expanding access to high calibre liberal arts education and has made significant efforts to develop innovative programs with this goal in mind. Historically, Bard has stood up to inequities in the traditional college application process that perpetuate inequality, and is a leader in reimagining college access. 

Notably, the College has maintained its test optional policy for almost 50 years and does not require applicants to take or submit SAT or ACT test scores in order to apply. Bard understands the inequity built into the standardized testing industry, and has for decades been able to identify successful candidates without them. Applications are read in their entirety by multiple staff members before being reviewed by committee. Bard also does not participate in the widespread purchasing of names, most often based on standardized test scores, which many institutions use to boost their selectivity figures. Each application to Bard is given a thorough, personal review, adhering to the College’s belief that a student's achievements and potential cannot be summarized by a test score.


Fellowships and Awards

Read the Story

  • Bard College Is a Top Producer of Fulbright U.S. Students and Scholars
    Bard College is proud to be included on the list of U.S. colleges and universities that produced the most 2020–21 Fulbright U.S. students. Bard had nine recipients in 2020–21, placing the College in the top 15 among BA institutions. This is the third year in a row Bard has made the list, and the fourth time in the past five years.

A Brief Introduction to Bard College

Director of Admission Mackie Siebens ’12 will take you through some important facts about Bard. A fact: Bard's 1000-acre campus in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York is the hub of a wider, global network. Learn more about Bard and see if you can find yourself here! Click here to join our mailing list, or here to contact your regional admission counselor! 

Introducción a Bard College
(in Spanish)
https://youtu.be/54QFvMveEiM

巴德学院简介
(in Chinese)
https://youtu.be/MB6sqdgEc4c

Equity and Inclusion Programs at Bard
Peer mentors in Bard's Equity and Inclusion Programs.

Equity and Inclusion Programs at Bard

SCHOLARSHIPS · MENTORING · COMMUNITY
Equity and Inclusion Programs at Bard College support scholars from a variety of backgrounds who seek to attain a rigorous liberal arts education. With the guidance of professional staff and peer mentors, scholars create a path of personal and academic success at Bard.

Complete the form below if you qualify for one of the following: Bard's High School Early College Opportunity (ECO) program; the New York State Higher Education Opportunity (HEOP) program; or Bard's Opportunity (BOP) program. You can find more information within the scholarship form or on the Office of Equity and Inclusion website.

Apply Now

Discover Bard

When It Comes to Future Earnings,
Liberal Arts Grads Might Get the Last Laugh

Students from liberal arts colleges don’t merely recoup their tuition dollars in the long run.
They eventually earn more than those who attended trade or business schools, a new report shows.
—The Chronicle of Higher Education, Bennett Leckrone, January 14, 2020

Read the Article (PDF)
Bard by the Numbers

Bard by the Numbers

Read about Bard's student profile, campus stats, tuition, and financial aid.

Learn More

  • 1,900
    undergraduates
  • 10:1
    student-faculty ratio
  • 17%
    international students/
    dual citizens
     
  • $57+m
    distributed
    in Bard aid
     

Virtual Event Recordings 

Podcast Series

Learn more about Bard College’s academic life, student life, and admission process directly from students, faculty, and staff.
Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts!

Discover More

Discover More

Whether working in Annandale or Berlin, in sustainable agriculture or in a tech startup, Bardians make a difference. Learn about Bard alumni/ae in the world, and how Bard supports graduates.

Life after Bard