Bard College Acceptance Rate
Annandale-On-Hudson, New York · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 6,628
- Admitted
- 3,466
- Yield
- 11.6%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Bard College's acceptance rate has risen from 44.6% in 2014–15 to 52.3% in 2023–24. Applications fell from 6,960 to 6,628 (-5%) over that period.
Its 52.3% rate makes Bard College more selective than about 82% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 119 tracked New York schools, it is more selective than about 78%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (55.5% for women vs 46.2% for men, a 9.3-point gap). Bard College has been test-optional since 2023–24. Of admitted students, 11.6% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 6,960 | 3,105 | 44.6% | 560 |
| 2015–16 | 7,044 | 2,266 | 32.2% | 447 |
| 2016–17 | 5,181 | 2,912 | 56.2% | 509 |
| 2017–18 | 4,922 | 2,865 | 58.2% | 470 |
| 2018–19 | 5,141 | 3,319 | 64.6% | 486 |
| 2019–20 | 4,912 | 3,181 | 64.8% | 482 |
| 2020–21 | 4,969 | 2,830 | 57% | 363 |
| 2021–22 | 5,167 | 3,096 | 59.9% | 473 |
| 2022–23 | 6,482 | 2,987 | 46.1% | 448 |
| 2023–24 | 6,628 | 3,466 | 52.3% | 402 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 4,339 | 2,408 | 55.5% |
| Men | 2,289 | 1,058 | 46.2% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 670–740 | 13% |
| SAT Math | 620–700 | |
| ACT Composite | 30–32 | 9% |
How Bard College compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Bard College's acceptance rate?
Bard College's acceptance rate is 52.3% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (3,466 admitted of 6,628 applicants).
Is Bard College test optional?
Bard College is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Bard College?
Bard College received 6,628 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 3,466.
What SAT score do you need for Bard College?
Admitted students at Bard College typically scored 670–740 on SAT Reading/Writing and 620–700 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Bard College getting harder to get into?
Bard College has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 44.6% in 2014–15 to 52.3% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.bard.edu/.