Bard College (BC)

Bard College is a private, four-year liberal arts college in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. Founded in 1860 as St. Stephen's College, Bard has grown into a tight-knit, globally connected community shaped by a progressive approach to education and a strong commitment to the arts. The college is coeducational and residential, offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Music degrees, plus thirteen graduate programs and a wide network of early colleges, dual-degree partnerships, and international affiliates in places like Germany, Austria, West Bank, and Kyrgyzstan. The curriculum, starting with first-year programs like Language and Thinking and Citizen Science and ending with the Senior Project, blends academic rigor with real flexibility, giving students room to shape their own education while working closely with faculty in small classes. Students also stay connected to New York City and the wider Bard Network, with options like Begin in Berlin and the Bard Prison Initiative, all set on a 1,200-acre campus in the Hudson Valley with modern facilities.

• Enrollment
  • Full-Time Female Undergraduates: 1,305
  • Full-Time Male Undergraduates: 856
  • Part-Time Female Undergraduates: 120
  • Part-Time Male Undergraduates: 174
• Age
  • Under 18: 43
  • 18–19: 835
  • 20–21: 810
  • 22–24: 294
  • 25+: 473
• Student Diversity
  • Asian: 68
  • Black / African American: 294
  • Hispanic: 336
  • International: 416
  • Multiracial: 128
  • Native American: 4
  • Pacific Islander: 0
  • White / Non-Hispanic: 1,089
  • Unknown: 120

Bard College offers over 170 clubs and organizations, some of the examples include: the Pre-Vet Club, International student organization, Bard Debate Union, Surrealist Training Circus, Bard kollage, Bard BEEs, WXBC and much more! Students can start their own club even as first year students.

When asked about their classmates, students quickly assert that "the only thing consistent from one Bardian to the next is that they will always surprise you." Nevertheless, while they may be "incredibly diverse in terms of [their] interests and passions," there's still plenty that unites these "creative and brilliant" individuals. To begin with, they tend to be "deep thinkers." As one undergrad explains, "If you're the kind of person who liked to think about big ideas in high school and felt left out when people around you were not moved by them, then Bard is the perfect place [for you]." Students are often described as "very accepting and liberal. They try to make everyone feel included regardless of gender, sexuality, race, etc." Another student concurs, adding, "Bard students are activists; we revel in politics, culture, education, and human rights." Undergrads appreciate that "there isn't much competition between students when it comes to grades or classes. People are just supportive of the projects their peers are working on." Ultimately, Bard is a place where "you can be a musical mathematician or a written arts and economics major, you can dance, sing, paint or be an athlete or none or all of the above, and people will be excited to hear your story."

Given the emphasis on academics at Bard, it's not unusual to find students enjoying "intellectual conversations and...rehashing class topics" even after class. However, there is also plenty of extracurricular fun to be had. "There are always events happening on campus, including concerts, dance performances, student theater pieces, community dinners, guest lectures, and yoga classes." One student sings the praises of the music scene, noting it's "terrific, both in terms of student bands and outside acts that perform on campus." Of course, "there are also various student clubs like the Surrealist T raining Circus and the Bard Free Press that meet weekly." Bard's drinking scene is fairly low-key; "on the weekends you can find "some parties, but if you have a good group of friends, you'll often stay in with wine or beer and listen to good music." As this student explains, "Bard is a place where often the best night out is time spent with friends." For those who appreciate spending time outdoors, the school is "in the middle of a forest in the Hudson Valley, so there are some absolutely gorgeous spots and hiking trails on campus." There's even one that provides "easy access to our own private waterfall!"

While Bard's educational philosophy does stress learning for its own sake, it places equal emphasis on making sure that what is learned is useful. The Career Development Office offers counseling, job guidance, and career events that include an annual recruiting consortium in New York City. Informal talks, career-specific panels, and formal symposia take place throughout the year. Bard's proximity to the city makes for “incredible opportunities for internships,” and professors are so “well-connected in their given fields” that they act as “great resources for research, internships, and networking.” While Bard believe a college education is more than a pre-professional path, the school does everything it can to help students translate their liberal arts education to the workplace.