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Applying to Bard
Photo by Karl Rabe

Applying to Bard

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How will you apply?

Select how you will be entering Bard by choosing one of the links below.
These pages contain specific details, including deadlines. Scroll down for our overview of application methods.
First-YearTransfer Bard Early CollegeInternationalHomeschooled  Return to College  Bard Conservatory

What are the application methods?

Choose only one! After you decide how you will apply, you will then decide when you will apply. 
Application Process FAQs
  • Common Application
    Using the Common Application, candidates may apply to Bard through: Early Action, Early Decision, Early Decision II, Regular Decision, The Immediate Decision Plan. You may only apply through one application method. If you apply through the Common Application, do not submit a Coalition Application.
    Apply Now with Common App
  • Coalition with Scoir
    Using Coalition with Scoir, candidates may apply to Bard through: Early Action · Early Decision · Early Decision II  · Regular Decision · The Immediate Decision Plan. You may only apply through one application method. If you apply through the Coalition Application, do not submit a Common Application.
    Apply Now with Scoir
Alternative Application Method: The Bard Entrance Exam
The Bard Entrance Examination is an online essay test open only to high school juniors and seniors. Completion of the test is equivalent to an application for admission. The deadline for submitting a completed examination is November 1, with notification of the results by mid-December. There is no fee for this examination.
Learn More

November Application Options

Deadline: November 1
Students applying to the Bard Conservatory of Music must apply by the Regular Decision deadline and are not eligible to apply through any other round.

The following are Bard's November 1 Application Options (choose only one):
  • Immediate Decision Plan
    Through this process, students receive an admission decision 48 hours after participating.

    Immediate Decision Plan

    Through this process, students receive an admission decision 48 hours after participating. The immediate decision plan (IDP) is for the accomplished student with Bard as their top choice. Applicants may choose for this process to be binding or non-binding by registering for an IDP date and then submitting their application via the Early Action (EA) or Early Decision I (EDI) rounds. On their IDP date,  IDP candidates participate in a class with Bard faculty and then interview with an admission counselor. Decisions are posted to applicant portals the next business day after 8 pm Eastern.

    For U.S. citizens, The College Board's College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile) must be filed by November 1 in order for eligible students to receive a financial aid package alongside their admission decision. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed as soon as it becomes available in December, and no later than February 1, 2024.

    For non-U.S. citizens, the International Student Financial Aid application, which can be found here, must be submitted by November 1.  

    Click for more information! 
  • Early Decision I
    Highly qualified candidates for whom Bard is the top choice may opt to use the binding Early Decision process.

    Early Decision I

    Highly qualified candidates for whom Bard is the top choice may opt to use the binding Early Decision process. Submit your application by November 1

    Please complete the Early Decision Agreement form, available on the Common Application and Coalition with Scoir. Decisions will be posted to your Bard Applicant Portal by the end of December. Students admitted through the Early Decision I round must accept Bard's offer of admission and make their deposit within 4 weeks of receiving their admission decision.

    For U.S. citizens, The College Board's College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile) must be filed by December 1 in order for eligible students to receive a financial aid package alongside their admission decision. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed as soon as it becomes available in December, and no later than February 1, 2024.

    For international students, the International Student Financial Aid application, which can be found here, must be submitted by November 1. 
    *This round will be labeled as Early Decision (ED) on the Common Application and Coalition with Scoir Application
  • Early Action
    Highly qualified candidates for whom Bard is a top choice may opt to use the non-binding Early Action process. 

    Early Action

    Highly qualified candidates for whom Bard is a top choice may opt to use the non-binding Early Action process.  Submit your application by November 1

    Decisions will be posted to your Bard Applicant Portal by the end of December.

    For U.S. citizens, The College Board's College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile) must be filed by December 1 in order for eligible students to receive a financial aid package alongside their admission decision. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed as soon as it becomes available in December, and no later than February 1, 2024.

    For international students, the International Student Financial Aid application, which can be found here, must be submitted by November 1. 

January Application Options

Deadline: January 1
Students applying to the Bard Conservatory of Music must apply by the Regular Decision deadline and are not eligible to apply through any other round.

The following are Bard's January 1 Application Options (choose only one):
  • Early Decision II
    Highly qualified candidates for whom Bard is the top choice may use the binding Early Decision II process.

    Early Decision II

    Highly qualified candidates for whom Bard is the top choice may use the binding Early Decision II process. Please complete the Early Decision II Agreement form, available on the Common Application website. Decisions will be posted to your Bard Applicant Portal by the end of January. For U.S. citizens, The College Board's College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile) and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be filed by February 1 in order for eligible students to receive a financial aid package alongside their admission decision. For international students, the International Student Financial Aid application, which can be found here, must be submitted by January 1. 
  • Regular Decision
    A non-binding application method with an admission decision being released in late March.

    Regular Decision

    A non-binding application method with an admission decision being released in late March. Decisions will be posted to your Bard Applicant Portal by the end of March. For U.S. citizens, The College Board's College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile) and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)must be filed by February 1 in order for eligible students to receive a financial aid package alongside their admission decision. For international students, the International Student Financial Aid application, which can be found here, must be submitted by January 1. 
The Bard Entrance Examination
Photo by Pete Mauney ’93 MFA ’00

The Bard Entrance Examination

An alternative application option that does not require the submission of the Common Application or Coalition with Scoir. Apply by Nov. 1
The Bard Entrance Examination is an online essay exam open only to high school juniors and seniors. The exam must be finished and submitted by November 1. Completion of the exam is equivalent to an application for admission. Applicants receive pass/fail notification of exam results by mid December.

Learn More About the Bard Exam
Did You Know?
Photo by Karl Rabe

Did You Know?

Bard College has been test optional for over 50 years
  • You do not need to take the SAT or ACT to apply to Bard
    SAT and ACT scores should only be submitted if a student feels that their scores are an accurate reflection of their academic abilities. Submitted SAT and ACT scores are only used to inform our review process in a very small fraction of applications that include SAT or ACT scores. Students who do not submit their SAT or ACT scores are not penalized in any way during the application review process.
  • There is no application fee to apply to Bard College
    For more information about our test optional policy, please reach out to the Office of Admission at [email protected] or 845-758-7472. 
    Apply Now

Applying for Financial Aid?

Required Financial Aid Forms for Bard College

Financial aid and scholarships based on need are available. (For some financial aid scholarships, students will need to fill out a form and submit that form at the same time their application to the College is submitted.) Both the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE forms are required by Bard for domestic students and are found online. For international students, the Bard International Student Application for Financial Aid is required and is to be completed and uploaded to their Bard portal with their application. All students receive access to their Bard Portal via email after submitting their application to Bard College.

Deadlines for Submitting Financial Aid Forms
  • US citizens applying through the following early application options: Bard Entrance Exam, Early Action, Early Decision I, the College Board's College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile) must be filed by December 1 in order for eligible students to receive a financial aid package alongside their admission decision. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed as soon as it becomes available in December, and no later than February 1, 2024. 
    • NOTE for Immediate Decision Plan (IDP) applicants: November 1 is the deadline to submit the CSS Profile. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed as soon as it becomes available in December, and no later than February 1, 2024.
  • International students applying through the following early application options: Bard Entrance Exam, Early Action, Early Decision I, the Bard International Student Financial Aid Application (BISFAA) must be filed by November 1 in order for eligible students to receive a financial aid package alongside their admission decision.
    • NOTE for Immediate Decision Plan (IDP) applicants: November 1 is the deadline to submit the BISFAA.
  • US citizens who are applying through the Regular Decision or Early Decision II options, the College Board's College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile) and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be filed by February 1 in order for eligible students to receive a financial aid package alongside their admission decision.
  • International students who are applying through the Regular Decision or Early Decision II options, the Bard International Student Financial Aid Application (BISFAA) must be filed by January 1 in order for eligible students to receive a financial aid package alongside their admission decision.
Financial Aid Website →

In-Person and Virtual Interview Options

  • Interviews are not required except for Return to College applicants. They are recommended for transfer and homeschooled students. Only students applying in the current admission cycle are eligible for an interview. 
  • Interviews are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Once interview slots are full, the Admission Office is unable to schedule additional slots. 
  • Students applying via the Immediate Decision Plan (IDP) should not register for an interview. An interview will be arranged for them during their IDP day.

  • Who Should Interview?
    Interviews are not required for any first-year or transfer applicant. Interviews are only required for Return to College applicants. Interviews are recommended for transfer and homeschooled students.

    Only students who fit the below criteria should consider interviewing with Bard:
    • Students who feel that the applications offered do not provide them with adequate space to fully explain important life and/or educational experiences 
    • Students who wish to provide further context around something they plan to include in their application that they feel would be better explained in an interview setting
    • Students who wish to share information with Admission that they do not plan to include in their application
  • Interview Options
    First Year and Spring Transfer/RCP interview slots are available from early September through early November, with additional slots offered in January for Regular Decision candidates only. On-campus interviews are hosted by Undergraduate Admission Fellows, while virtual interviews are hosted by Admission Counselors. Admission Counselors may also be available to host interviews during their fall travel schedule, students are welcome to reach out to the Admission Representative for their region about on-the-road interview possibilities. Please know that we weigh fellow and counselor interviews equally, and interviews for First Year and Transfer applicants are simply a layer of our holistic application review process, and you will not be disadvantaged in the application process if you were not able to schedule an interview. 
  • Interview Deadlines
    • Early Action, Early Decision I, and Bard Entrance Exam interviews: weekdays from September 9, 2024, through October 21, 2024
    • Regular Decision and Early Decision II interviews: weekdays from September 9, 2024, through January 31, 2025
    • Spring Transfer and Return to College interviews: weekdays from September 9, 2024, through October 21, 2024
    • Fall Transfer and Return to College interviews: weekdays in February of 2025
    REGISTER HERE
Campus Connect

Campus Connect

Admitted and prospective students who are interested in connecting with a professor, taking a class, or seeing a specific facility while on campus should fill out this Campus Connect form. Please make your request at least five business days before you plan to arrive on campus. 
Campus Connect form
Video on Accessing the Bard Portal for Students 

Attention Parents/Families of Bard Applicants!

Important Information About Accessing Your Student's Bard Portal
Once your student submits their application, it may take 24–48 hours for us to confirm receipt. Once we receive their application, they will be emailed a confirmation which includes the credentials to access their Bard portal. Students should login to their Bard portals regularly to view their application and, if applicable, financial aid checklists to make sure we have received all of their required materials and to see important messages we post there.

Attention Parents/Families of Bard Applicants!

  • If your student submits their application on the deadline date but still has required materials to submit, please note that they will have time to upload those application materials after that deadline date as long as their application has been submitted. It is important, however, that they submit those final materials as soon as possible after the deadline has passed as the admission committee cannot read incomplete applications.
  • If your student applied via the Bard Entrance Exam (BEE) they will also receive a confirmation email from us noting receipt of their BEE application within 48 hours of submitting their application essays. That email will also provide them with access to their Bard portal, which they should view regularly.
  • We ask students not to mail or email any materials directly to the Admission Office unless instructed to do so. Your student is to use their Bard portal and go to their Application Tab to upload and view submitted materials. 

Submitting application materials to Bard College: 
  • As an applicant, your student will receive a login and a link to their Bard portal. (Note: It may take 24-48 hours for us to confirm receipt of their application, after which they will receive a login and a link to their Bard portal.) That portal gives your student access to many tabs, one of which is their Application Tab where they will see their Application Checklist. Students are encouraged to review their Application Checklist periodically to see if there are missing application materials. We instruct students to upload all materials, including any supplemental materials they wish to share with us, to their Bard portal. File formats we accept are listed on their Bard portal.
    • Transcripts and recommendations submitted by their counselors and teachers will eventually appear with a green checkmark on their Application Checklist as they are received. If their transcripts and recommendations do not appear in their Application Checklist after they’ve requested them to be sent to Bard, your student needs to follow-up with their counselor, teachers and/or their school office. Please note that applicants must not upload any recommendation letters themselves as these must remain confidential and should be sent to Bard by the recommenders directly. We will also notify you and your student, via email, if there are any missing materials.
Checking financial aid materials: 
  • If your student is applying for financial aid, once they’ve submitted all the required materials, your student should go to the Financial Aid Tab in their portal to confirm that they have been received and to see if there are any missing materials. (Note: It can take from 48 hours to 3-5 days, depending on the form being submitted, before a green check mark appears next to each of the respective forms.)
Viewing admission decisions and notifications:
  • Your student will receive an email from Admission stating that there has been an update to their Bard portal. Your student is to log in to their portal and click on their Dashboard Tab where all decision letters and correspondences from the College are displayed. 
  • Offers of Admission can be accepted, declined, or deferred, within the Bard portal. Enrollment deposits can be made using a credit card, or your student can indicate that their payment is forthcoming via a check or money order. 
Viewing events:
  • Any events hosted by the Office of Admission will be displayed in an Event Tab on their portal.
Here's what displays on their portal after your student enrolls at Bard:
  • Once your student’s enrollment deposit is processed, within a week, their Bard portal will display new tabs. The Bardian checklist tab will display their personalized Bardian checklist. There will also be a Special Admitted Events Tab.

Discover More

Summer and Winter Programs in China

Summer and Winter Programs in China

Bard College (Office for Asia-Pacific) offers a range of summer and winter programs in Xiamen, Dali, and Huangshan, among other locations, for young students (14-18 year-olds) who gain skills in various subjects, learn from international faculty, and develop their academic projects while pursuing academic interests. The program’s topics include Film and Media, Environment Conservation, Humanities and the Arts, and Music Production. Bard’s Summer and Winter Programs balance fun, travel, and learning with hands-on activities, guided field trips, faculty lectures, community engagement, group work, and individual projects. You can find more information about the programs on this webpage.

Yellow Ribbon Program

Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, colleges and universities enter into a voluntary agreement with the Veterans Administration to cover the cost of tuition and fees in excess of the amounts payable under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. The Yellow Ribbon Program financially aids veterans, and those eligible for veterans benefits, to make a Bard education more accessible regardless of a student's socio-economic circumstances. 

For more information about the Yellow Ribbon Program, please contact Josh Tyler at [email protected]. 
The Bridge Program

The Bridge Program

An Enrichment Program for High School Juniors and Seniors
High school juniors and seniors who have met or are currently fulfilling their high school requirements and would like the opportunity to participate in a higher-level educational experience are invited to participate in up to two 100- or 200-level classes at Bard to broaden their educational development. 
Learn More

Non-Matriculated Students

Bard College allows several options for taking classes as a non-matriculated student. Students who have graduated high school may choose to audit or take a course(s) for credit.
Auditing Fees:
  • Taking a course for credit: $2,050 per credit (classes are often 4 credits each)
  • Auditing a course (only for those age 65 and over): $100
  • Registration fee: $175
If you are a high school junior or senior and are interested in taking courses at Bard please see our Bridge Program page. 
If you are a current college student looking to spend a semester or year at Bard please visit our Visiting + Exchange Students page. 

Non-Matriculated Students

Application Process
  1. Application: Students should submit a completed online application to the Bard Admission Office at least three weeks prior to registration day (November 30 for spring semester, July 31 for fall semester). Current course list
  2. Interview: Students must schedule an interview with Josh Tyler, [email protected], in the Bard Admission Office no later than three weeks prior to registration day.
  3. Approval: Applications of recommended students will be forwarded to Craig Jude in the Registrar’s Office.
  4. Registration: Students should contact the professor of the class they are interested in taking to receive approval for participation in that class. Once a student has received approval, they will need to contact Craig Jude, of the Registrar’s Office, to officially register for the class. Contact: Craig Jude, [email protected]. 
  5. Payment: Student Accounts must be contacted upon completion of the registration process for registration and course fees to be made. Contact: [email protected]. 
  6. Account Setup: Once students have registered and submitted their payment for the semester, they should contact our Help Desk to set up their Bard account and email. Contact: [email protected].
*Please note: Bard College students have priority registration to all classes. The Registrar’s Office and individual professors will assist you in choosing appropriate classes.
Fire and Safety Report
Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
Bard College is committed to assisting all members of the community in providing for their own safety and security. The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available on the Office of Safety and Security website.

If you would like to receive a hard copy of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains this information, you can stop by the Office of Safety and Security Office in Memorial Hall, 30 Campus Road, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504, or you can request that a copy be mailed to you by calling 845-758-7460.

The report contains information regarding campus security and personal safety including topics such as: crime prevention, public safety authority, crime reporting policies, fire safety, disciplinary procedures and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about fire statistics in Bard residential facilities and crime statistics for the three previous calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the College; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.

This information is required by law and is provided by the Office of Safety and Security.
Bard College
30 Campus Road, PO Box 5000
Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 12504-5000
Phone: 845-758-6822
Admission Email: [email protected]
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