Bard College Announces New Laureate Full-Tuition Scholarships to Support Outstanding Young Scholars in Pursuing a Liberal Arts Education

ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.—Bard College announces today the creation of Bard’s Laureate Full-Tuition Scholarships, its most prestigious academic scholarship award established to support talented young students whose educational opportunities may be limited by resources. Beginning in academic year 2026–2027, Bard will select 10 Laureate Scholars from its incoming first-year class, creating a cohort of 40-50 Laureate Scholars within the student body. Laureate Scholars will be students who have graduated in the top 10% of their high school class, come from families with incomes of $200,000 or less per year, and show extraordinary academic promise. Laureate Scholars will receive full-tuition coverage at Bard College for four years of study, or five years of study for Bard College Conservatory of Music students. Recipients will be selected annually from the pool of all admitted students who meet the scholarship’s criteria; no separate application is required. The Laureate Full-Tuition Scholarship, created by President Botstein and marking his 51-year tenure as president, deepens Bard’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to a rigorous liberal arts education for high achieving scholars by removing financial constraints.

“I am delighted that my final act as President of Bard, after more than half a century, is the inauguration of a new full-tuition scholarship program directed at students who have distinguished themselves in their high school years, not by standardized tests but through excellence in their studies, and are from families with incomes of $200,000 or less,” said Leon Botstein. “Colleges need to reward the love of learning and curiosity in young people from middle class homes. Bard is proud to create this cohort over the next four and five years, who, through their achievements, have earned a tuition-free path to a bachelor’s degree. This opportunity exemplifies the spirit and values of the College.”

“Every year we read applications from students who have done everything right, who sit at the very top of their class, and who have the intellectual curiosity Bard is built around. Too often, cost is a barrier between them and the education they deserve. The Laureate Scholars will be among the strongest students we admit, and we can pursue each one fully without asking them to choose between Bard and what their family can afford,” said Bard Director of Admission George Hamel.

One of the country’s most innovative institutions of higher education, Bard College is distinguished by its small class sizes, excellence in the arts, hands-on scientific research, rigorous interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning, and deep commitment to civic engagement and the liberal arts as cornerstones of a thriving democracy. Bard’s exceptional student body comes from all regions of the United States, and its international students represent more than 40 countries, demonstrating the College’s impact as a close campus community as well as on a global scale. Undergraduates are not only taught, but mentored directly by esteemed faculty from across 38 academic programs which offer bachelor of arts degrees and dual degree pathways in economics, finance, and through the Bard College Conservatory of Music. 

Prospective students can apply to Bard College through the Common Application or Coalition Application. Bard offers flexible application options to support students throughout the admissions process and takes a holistic approach to reviewing applications, considering each student’s academic achievements, experiences, and potential. If you would like additional information about applying, please email us at [email protected] or call 845 758 7472.
 

This event was last updated on 06-29-2026

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