Undergraduate Admission

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Why We Don’t Give “Merit Aid”

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.

This year, with the support of donors who believe strongly in expanding access, Bard launched a new initiative that removes our application fee. Students may now apply to Bard College free of charge using the Common Application or the Bard Entrance Exam. More information about Bard’s application methods can be found here. 

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. Merit-based aid often leads to higher discount rates for students of means who can afford the full cost of high-quality education on their own at the expense of those with the least means. Using “merit aid” as a euphemism for funding to high-income applicants runs counter to our institutional ideals. Bard College believes in the benefit of bringing the best students together in the classroom, regardless of their ability to pay. As such, Bard will not participate in the unfair distribution of resources encouraged by merit aid scholarships.