Independent liberal arts college on the Hudson River with strong arts, sciences, and civic engagement programs.
Bard offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees across five academic divisions: Arts; Languages and Literature; Science, Mathematics, and Computing; Social Studies; and Interdivisional Programs. The college features 23 academic departments with over 40 major programs and 12 interdisciplinary concentrations. Bard was the first college in the nation to offer a human rights major. Graduate programs include the Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts (MFA), Bard Graduate Center, Center for Curatorial Studies, and specialized master's degrees in sustainability, teaching, and global studies. All courses are taught by full faculty members, many of whom are active scholars and MacArthur Fellows.
The 1,260-acre campus in Annandale-on-Hudson features over 70 buildings blending Collegiate Gothic and contemporary architecture, including the Frank Gehry-designed Fisher Center for Performing Arts. The college recently expanded with the 380-acre Montgomery Place estate (2016) and 260-acre Barrytown property (2023). Student life emphasizes residential engagement, with housing options including Stone Row dormitories, the Resnick Commons, and faculty housing. The campus hosts world-class performing arts venues, cultural exhibitions, and recreational opportunities in the historic Hudson Valley setting.
For 2025–2026, Bard's acceptance rate is 39.7% with 493 admitted students. The college does not require SAT or ACT scores; applicants may instead submit a 19-question essay examination across four categories (Social Studies, Languages and Literature, Arts, Science/Mathematics/Computing). For students submitting test scores, the middle 50% scored 1296–1468 on the SAT or 28–33 on the ACT, with an average GPA of 3.79. Financial aid is substantial: 77% of students receive institutional aid with an average package of $58,000; 24% are Pell Grant recipients.
Bard is ranked 71st among national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report (2025) and 50th by Washington Monthly (2024). The college is a top producer of Fulbright Scholars and has produced Watson Fellows, Rhodes Scholars, Marshall Scholars, and Peace Corps fellows. The MFA program was ranked one of the ten most influential in the world by Artspace Magazine (2023). Notable alumni and faculty include MacArthur Fellows, Nobel laureates, and prominent journalists, artists, and writers.