Mills College vs Bard College

Mills College and Bard College, two esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Mills, a women's college in Oakland, California, boasts a 70% acceptance rate and a focus on social justice and the arts. Bard, a coeducational college in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, has a 35% acceptance rate and emphasizes interdisciplinary studies and environmental sustainability. While both colleges share a commitment to academic excellence and fostering a diverse and inclusive community, their unique strengths and offerings may appeal to different students. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into the details of each institution, including popular majors, student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, to find the college that best aligns with your aspirations and goals.
Bard College logo

Bard College

Mills College logo

Mills College

Overview

Location Annandale-On-Hudson, New York Oakland, California
Campus setting Town: Fringe City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 87.0% 62.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 59.9% 79.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range N/A 1378 - 1413
ACT range N/A 30 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 5.0%
Students submitting ACT score 5.0%
Total number of applicants 5,167 847
Total number of admissions given out 3,096 676
Admitted students who chose to enroll 473 39
Yield rate 15.3% 5.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $72,868 $51,108
Average net price $24,318 $25,283
Tuition $57,498 $29,340
Room & board $16,760 $14,369
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

79.0%
Average amount $50,598
100.0%
Average amount $22,278
Students receiving federal student loan 49.0%
Average amount $5,101
47.0%
Average amount $5,389
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $16,225
2.0%
Average amount $29,740

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,171
Men 44.4% Women 55.6%
446
Men 0.4% Women 99.6%
Graduate students 420
Men 40.2% Women 59.8%
371
Men 18.3% Women 81.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 14.7% 1.1%
Campus local/setting Town: Fringe City: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,400 705
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Liberal Arts
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Business
  • Education
  • Natural Resources and Conservation
  • Education
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Social Sciences
  • Business
  • Health Professions
Students to faculty ratio 9:1 8:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 70.6% 64.0%
Dropout rate 9.9% 36.0%
Transferred out 18.3% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,261
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,624
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Biological and Physical Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,818
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Social Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,172
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $17,518
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,944
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Music (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,353
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,051
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Business/Managerial Economics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,948
  • Year 2: $64,493
  • Year 3: $70,496
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,134
  • Year 2: $64,493
  • Year 3: $57,979
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,320
  • Year 2: $56,579
  • Year 3: $56,033
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $49,646
  • Year 3: $52,756
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,658
  • Year 3: $23,920
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,216
  • Year 2: $24,808
  • Year 3: $23,861
Music (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $22,841
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,229
  • Year 2: $34,526
  • Year 3: N/A
Literature (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,533
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A

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