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Bard College
Annandale-On-Hudson, NY 2,414 Undergrads 72.0% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$84,553
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$34,649
After Aid
Median Earnings
$45,380
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$34,649
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$45,380
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate72.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients21.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS50.8%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
52.1%
SAT Avg
1,380
SAT Reading
25th: 650-75th: 750
SAT Math
25th: 620-75th: 700
ACT Composite
25th: 28-75th: 32
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$415k
-$52k
-$70k
Median Cost$35k/yr
+$290k
-$177k
-$194k
Full Cost$85k/yr
+$110k
-$357k
-$374k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$35k/yr
Never
-156%
Full Cost$85k/yr
Never
-123%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-133%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-101%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Music
CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,318
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Associate's Degrees
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$34,571
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Bachelor's Degrees
Biological and Physical Sciences
BachCIP: 3001
Median Debt
$26,455
Earnings (4yr)
$64,518
Natl Median: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis
BachCIP: 3026
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other
BachCIP: 2399
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,402
Natl Median: $46,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$34,667
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$287k
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies
BachCIP: 3023
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,907
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,298
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$255k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Literature
BachCIP: 2314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (4yr)
$48,751
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Social Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$51,485
Earnings (4yr)
$103,582
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other
MastCIP: 2399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,491
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$48,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,961
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$281k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$21,422
Earnings (4yr)
$51,212
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$259k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Visual and Performing Arts, Other
MastCIP: 5099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graduate Certificates
Music
Gr-CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,504
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Doctoral Degrees
Fine and Studio Arts
DocCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,718
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
DocCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.