Is Bard College Worth the Debt?
Graduates of Bard College earn a median of $66,590 within 5 years, against a median debt of $26,421. The graduation rate is 10000%.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Avg Median Debt | $26,421 |
| Avg Median Earnings (1yr) | $49,000 |
| Avg Median Earnings (5yr) | $66,590 |
| Graduation Rate | 10000% |
| School Type | private |
| Majors Available | 6 |
Top Majors by ROI
| Major | ROI Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences | 72/100 | B |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 71/100 | B |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 71/100 | B |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | 64/100 | C |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 61/100 | C |
How does Bard College compare?
Average debt at Bard College is $26,421, which is roughly at the national average of $26,295 for federal aid recipients. First-year earnings of $49,000 sit $8,775 below the national average of $57,775.
That works out to a debt-to-income ratio of 0.54x — meaning a graduate would need 0.5 years of full pre-tax first-year salary to clear the debt. Below 1.0x is considered manageable on a 10-year standard repayment plan. Picking the right major matters more than picking the school: at Bard College, the Social Sciences program scores Grade B on ROI (BUY).
Graduates of Bard College earn a median of $66,590 within 5 years, against a median debt of $26,421. The graduation rate is 10000%.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.