Is Bard College test optional?

We haven't confirmed Bard College's test policy for 2026–27. Check their admissions site; many colleges have changed their policy since 2020.

What is Bard College's acceptance rate?

52% of applicants were admitted in 2024–25, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 3,952 of 7,583 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 8%, from 7,044 in 2015 to 7,583 in 2024, and Bard College's admit rate went from 32% to 52%.

What ACT score do you need for Bard College?

First-year students who sent an ACT scored 32–34, with a median of 34. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1480–1540 works out to about 33–35.

Does applying early decision help at Bard College?

26% of early decision applicants were admitted (434 of 1,694), against 52% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at Bard College?

148 of the 1,567 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 9.4%, per the Common Data Set 2024–25.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Bard College? (Middle 50%: 1480–1540)

First-year students at Bard College who sent an SAT scored 1480–1540, with a median of 1510 (Common Data Set 2024–25). Bard College admits 52% of applicants.

Bard College · Annandale-On-Hudson, NY

Where your score lands at Bard College

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1480–1540, median 1510

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Bard College is for you and whether to send your score.

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Bard College by the numbers

Admit rate: 52%
Middle 50% SAT: 1480–1540
Median SAT: 1510
About on the ACT: 33–35

Test policy not confirmed for 2026–27 · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2024–25; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Bard College admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 8%, from 7,044 in 2015 to 7,583 in 2024, and Bard College's admit rate went from 32% to 52%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	7,583	3,952	52%
2023	6,628	3,466	52%
2022	6,482	2,987	46%
2021	5,167	3,096	60%
2020	4,969	2,830	57%
2019	4,912	3,181	65%
2018	5,141	3,319	65%
2017	4,922	2,865	58%
2016	5,181	2,912	56%
2015	7,044	2,266	32%

In fall 2024, 505 of the 3,952 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Bard College

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?*

Under 1430Far reachHold
1430–1470ReachHold
1480–1500TargetHold
1510–1530TargetSend
1540 and upLikelySend

1300135014001450150015501600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges. *Send it? assumes they're test optional; we haven't confirmed their policy.

Bard College SAT sections and ACT

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	740	770	790
SAT Reading and Writing	730	750	770
SAT total	1480	1510	1540
ACT composite	32	34	34

Common Data Set 2024–25.

Bard College early decision and waitlist

Early decision

434 of 1,694 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision26%
All applicants52%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

2,055 applicants were offered a spot, 1,567 took it, and 148 were admitted from it.

9.4%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2024–25.

Bard College cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $34,649; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 68%
Median earnings: $46,543; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 2,965

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Bard College

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

Sources

Bard College Common Data Set 2024–25
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Bard College website
Bard College

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1480–1540, and the median was 1510. At 1510 or higher you're above half of them. Bard College admits 52% of applicants.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$