Bard College

It is moderately difficult to get into Bard College. Bard College admitted 60% of all applicants in 2022. Last year, 5,161 students applied to Bard College and 3,096 were admitted.

Check in with Bard College's admissions department for more information on applying.

Students who apply to Bard College for fall semester should receive an admissions decision no later than April 1.

Bard College Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here's an overiew of some of Bard College's admissions stats.

Bard College 2023	Admissions Statistics
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	34%
Admissions Test Policy	Not optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	12%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	6%
Waitlist	No

Bard College Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Bard College.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Yes	November 1	January 1
Early Decision II	–	–	–
Early Action	Yes	November 1	January 1
Regular Decision	Yes	1 1	April 1

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Want to Apply Early to Bard College?

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Bard College offers early decision and also offers early action. Early decision is binding, which means you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.

🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 1 EDI applicants should receive a decision by January 1.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1. Bard College will release EA admissions decisions no later than January 1.

The early decision acceptance rate at Bard College is 89%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 60%. In 2022, Bard College admitted 40 of the 45 students who applied early decision.

Some students apply to college early to help their chances of getting in. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase the chance of being admitted, since it demonstrates your interest in a school.

➡️ See a list of some competetive colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on Bard College Admissions

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Transferring to Bard College

It is moderately difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.

For Students Waitlisted to Bard College

Bard College has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What's Most Important for Getting Into Bard College?

Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are are most important in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that prioritize the admissions factors where you're strong.

Admissions Factors at Bard College

What does Bard College consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Character/Personal Qualities	Very Important
Application Essay	Very Important
Extracurricular Activities	Very Important
Recommendation(s)	Very Important
Talent/Ability	Very Important
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Volunteer Work	Important
Work Experience	Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Class Rank	Considered
Geographical Residence	Considered
Interview	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Religious Affiliation/Commitment	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered
State Residency	Considered
Level of Applicant's Interest	Considered
First Generation	Considered

Make sure to check with Bard College for more information on admission factors.

Bard College Application Requirements

To apply to Bard College, all applicants must submit the following items. Check with Bard College's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Written Essay or Personal Statement	–	–	–	–
Interview	–	–	–	–
Transcript(S) of College Record	–	–	–	–
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)	–	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Bard College?

Bard College has not provided an information about GPAs of accepted students. Any questions regarding applicant expectations should be addressed directly with the school.

Out of all students that were admitted, 35% submitted a class rank. At Bard College 34% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 68% were in the top 25% and 90% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Bard College, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	–
3.75 and 3.99	–
3.50 and 3.74	–
3.25 and 3.49	–
3.00 and 3.24	–
2.50 and 2.9	–
2.00 and 2.49	–

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Bard College directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Bard College does not have a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 12% of Bard College's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 6% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Bard College students scored 728 or higher and 75% of students scored 673 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Bard College students scored 740 or higher, and 75% scored a 673 or higher.

To be most competitive at Bard College, you should strive to earn between 28 and 33 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 33 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Bard College's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 33, and three out of four students scored lower than 33 on the ACT.

A 28 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Bard College students. Only one out of every four students scored below 28.

More Information on Transferring to Bard College

For transfer students, it is moderately difficult to get admitted to Bard College.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is March 1. Applicants should hear back by May 15.

Transfer students can enroll in Bard College during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term

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Bard College Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to Bard College?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Bard College.

Does Bard College accept transfer credits?

✅ Bard College accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Does Bard College accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Bard College accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Bard College?

✅ Bard College is not test optional.

What is Bard College's acceptance rate?

✅ The acceptance rate for Bard College is 60%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Bard College?

✅ Bard College's early decision acceptance rate was 89% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About Bard College?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

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