College Spotlight – Bard College
Bard College, founded in 1860 as a private institution, ranks among the top schools in National Liberal Arts Colleges, according to U.S. News. Located in Annandale-on-Hudson in upstate New York, the secluded campus boasts of surrounding scenery, as well as views of the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson River. As a smaller college with a 10:1 student to faculty ratio and 77% of classes consisting of fewer than twenty students, Bard College is known for offering students opportunities to work closely with faculty and staff.
Location
- Bard College is a small liberal arts college with a total enrollment of 2,290 students, including 2,023 undergraduate students.
- The campus is located in Annandale near the beautiful Hudson Valley in upstate New York. Its setting is rural and the size of the campus is roughly 1,000 acres.
- Its setting is unique in the sense that it is a less typical college campus. Rather, it can be described as a vast village that spread across 500 acres of wooded areas and parks.
Stats
- Private, Coed
- Rural Setting
- No Religious Affiliation
- Semester-based Academic Calendar
- 67% of full-time undergraduate students receive some form of need-based financial aid
- Average amount for need-based scholarship or grant is $37,785.
Estimated Tuition
- Tuition and fees: $51,384 (school year)
- Room and Board; $14,540 (school year)
- As a private institution, Bard College charges one tuition rate for all students regardless of whether or not they reside in the same state as the campus.
Housing
- First-year students must live on campus and choose from among the forty or so residence halls and housing facilities, some of which are themed “quiet,” “wellness,” and “alcohol free.”
Student Life and Activities
- Outdoor recreational activities are available in the area, including horseback riding, hiking, canoeing, and biking.
- There are almost 100 clubs on campus and students are welcome to create and establish new organizations.
- There is no Greek system or Panhellenic Council on campus.
- Roughly half of the students take advantage of study abroad programs before graduation.
- New York City is ninety miles from campus and is easily accessibly by train.
Athletics
- The Bard Raptors are the campus’ collegiate sports teams
- They are members of the NCAA Division III Liberty League
Fun Facts:
- Notable alumni include journalist, Matt Taibbi, and founders of Steely Dan, musicians Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.
- Ranked as one of the colleges that offer the best value for students in terms of the academic quality of the program compared to the net cost for students with need-based financial aid.
- The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 87%.
- 45% of students are male, 55% of students are female
Application Information
- Application Deadline is January 1
- Early Decision Deadline is November 1
- Common Application is accepted
- $50 Application Fee
- Acceptance Rate: 32%
When asked to describe how Bard College would look to someone who had never seen the campus, one student responded, “Bard College is a small secluded school full of incredible, intellectually passionate professors and eccentric, hard-working students that are seeking answers to important questions.” Bard College is the perfect balance between a quiet community and its access to the greater world outside of the Hudson River Valley, both in its proximity to New York City and its study abroad programs.
To learn more about Bard College, visit http://www.bard.edu
