Barnard College

Private

New York, NY

Located in New York, NY, Barnard College is a private mid-sized school with roughly 3,264 undergraduates. It's highly selective, admitting about 9% of applicants. Among reported majors, Economics shows the strongest outcomes -- $111,909/year in median earnings four years after graduation. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus.

Admissions

Admit rate9%

SAT range1470–1560

ACT range32–34

Undergrads3,264

Yield (admits who enroll)66%

Next deadlineNot reported

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$89,538

4-year grad rate93%

Median earnings, 10yr out$80,516

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against Barnard College's numbers?

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How Barnard College weighs your application

From Barnard College's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors

Rigor of secondary school recordVery important

Class rankImportant

Academic GPAVery important

Standardized test scoresConsidered

Application essayVery important

RecommendationsVery important

Nonacademic factors

InterviewNot considered

Extracurricular activitiesImportant

Talent/abilityImportant

Character/personal qualitiesVery important

First generationConsidered

Alumni relation (legacy)Considered

Geographical residenceConsidered

State residencyNot considered

Religious affiliationNot considered

Volunteer workImportant

Work experienceImportant

Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Considered

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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans26%

Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out87%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies

Area Studies$66,117/yr

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Biology, General$75,696/yr

Neurobiology and Neurosciences$66,787/yr

English Language and Literature/Letters

English Language and Literature, General$61,327/yr

History

History$62,258/yr

Psychology

Research and Experimental Psychology$65,644/yr

Social Sciences

Economics$111,909/yr

Urban Studies/Affairs$79,807/yr

Sociology$77,821/yr

Political Science and Government$77,805/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes

Required to live on campusNo

Dormitory capacity2,367

Typical room charge$11,738

Typical board charge$7,626

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPAConsidered, not required

Class rankConsidered, not required

RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Barnard College look for in applicants?

Per Barnard College's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, application essay, recommendations, character/personal qualities as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Barnard College's acceptance rate?

Barnard College in New York, NY admits approximately 9% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Barnard College?

Admitted students at Barnard College typically score between 1470–1560 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Barnard College?

Admitted students at Barnard College typically score between 32–34 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Barnard College cost?

Barnard College's total cost of attendance is reported at $89,538 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

Does Barnard College require students to live on campus?

No -- Barnard College doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.