Our Students

Students come from across the country and around the globe to study at Bard.
They undertake a broad range of academic programs in Annandale. While pursuing their degrees, they volunteer in the community, develop their career goals, and bring their talents to the campus and the region. They share a love of learning and the leadership to make their mark on the world.

Who Is the Class of 2024?

  • Incoming Students
    First-year students: 362
    Public high school: 59%
    Independent high school: 27%
    Religious high school: 8%
    Charter high school: 5%
    Homeschool (partial or complete): 1%
     
  • US Geographic Distribution 
    New England: 15%
    Mid-Atlantic: 51%*
    South/Southeast: 9%
    Southwest: 2%
    Midwest: 6%
    West: 17%
    *New York: 39%

    Percentage of the Class 
    International/US-Dual Citizens:     17%

    States: 37 
    Countries: 33
  • Ethnic Diversity
    African American/Black: 9%
    Asian: 8%
    Hispanic/Latino: 13%
    Multiracial: 7%
    Native American/Alaskan Native: 1%
    Native Hawaiian/or other Pacific Islander: 1%
    White/non-Hispanic: 61%
    Unknown: 9%

    *Race/ethnicity does not total 100% because students are able to select more than one race/ethnicity. 
Class of 2024
Photo: Karl Rabe

Class of 2024

Bard College’s Class of 2024 was selected from a large and competitive applicant pool, indicating their extraordinary promise. They are a high-achieving group, with wide-ranging interests and varied backgrounds. Our first-year students come to Annandale-on-Hudson from 37 states and 33 countries, bringing with them their passion, creativity, and intellectual engagement.

Our Students

Matt Sprague

Matt Sprague

Bard senior Matt Sprague is studying food systems and inequality through the power of a sandwich.

Matt's Story >>

  • Cat and Ben's Story >>
    When Catherine Baum started looking at colleges, Bard was on her radar: her older brother, Ben, was already a Bard student.
  • Sara's Story >>
    Sara Xing Eisenberg grew up in Manhattan and attended the Bard High School Early College.
  • Abiba's Story >>
    Biology major Abiba Salahou talks about the importance of speaking up and getting involved on campus. 

Academic Snapshot: Time and Credits at Bard

The academic year is divided into two 15-week semesters.
Most classes are 4 semester hours of academic credit.
128 credits are required for the bachelor's degree.
The average semester course load is 16 credits.

Bard by the Numbers

  • College Facts

    Academic 

    1,021 classes
    Tutorials: 113
    Student/faculty ratio: 10:1

    Class size: 
    2–9 students: 30%
    10–19 students: 49%
    20–29 students: 19%
    30–39 students: 2%

    Faculty 
    Total: 267
    Identifies as female: 43.8%
    Identifies as male: 56.2%
    Faculty of color: 14.2%
    Full-time faculty with a terminal degree: 80%

    SAT/ACT
    Bard College has been test optional for over 40 years.

    Application Fee
    There is NO application fee to apply to Bard College!
     
  • Tuition and Aid

    Financial Aid

    Total Bard Scholarship aid awarded:
    $57.5 million
    (2020-2021)

    Average debt: $29,270
    (those who graduated in May 2019)

    — Class of 2024 —

    Received Bard institutional aid: 80%

    Average Bard institutional aid: $49,232

    Average aid package total: $56,480
    (includes loans, work study, and grants)
    The class of 2024 received aid in the following categories: 7% loans, 2% work study, 91% grants.

    Total Bard aid to first years  $13.7 million 

    Pell Grant recipients: 27%

    Fees 
    Tuition: $55,566
    Room and board: $17,938*
    Health Service: $470
    Security deposit: $225
    Total first year: $74,199

    *The room-and-board cost for first-year students includes the August Language and Thinking and January Citizen Science programs.

  • Other Notable Stats

    Over 50% of Bard students study away

    75% students involved in programs or projects in civic engagement, community service, Trustee Leader Scholars (TLS), or student club or activity

    Over 90% of Bard students are either employed, in graduate school, or pursuing scholarships--such as, Watson or Fulbright, within 6 months of graduating

    Graduate schools include: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Oxford, Cambridge, Dartmouth, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, London School of Economics, Georgia Tech, Carnegie Mellon, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, Juilliard

About Campus: Rachel Explores Ward Manor

Rachel is a Bard College student in the Psychology Program. She visits one of the landmarks of Bard's campus: Ward Manor, often called simply "Manor." The porch behind Manor is a prime spot to study, enjoy a meal from the Manor Cafe, or connect with friends. The porch boasts a view of the iconic Stargon sculpture (affectionately called "The Bunny Ears"), the Bard Farm, and the Catskill Mountains in the background.

Video Gallery

Why I Chose Bard

Why choose Bard College? The unique and rigorous curriculum, stunning campus, and close relationships with faculty are a few of the reasons our students decided to make Bard their home. Hear them talk about what drew them to the college in the beginning and the scholarly, creative community they've found on campus since.