Bard College vs Curtis Institute of Music

Bard College and Curtis Institute of Music, two esteemed institutions with distinct academic landscapes, offer prospective students a unique set of opportunities. Bard, a liberal arts college nestled in the Hudson Valley, boasts an acceptance rate of 38%, while Curtis, a renowned conservatory in Philadelphia, maintains a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of only 4%. While Bard's student body is diverse, with 49% female and 51% male students, Curtis's student population is predominantly female, at 63%. Both institutions excel in their respective fields, with Bard excelling in the liberal arts and sciences and Curtis renowned for its music programs. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we present a comprehensive comparison of these two institutions, delving into key aspects such as acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates.
Bard College logo

Bard College

Curtis Institute of Music logo

Curtis Institute of Music

Overview

Location Annandale-On-Hudson, New York Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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% 90.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 59.9% 4.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $150

Graduate: $150
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 5,167 229
Total number of admissions given out 3,096 11
Admitted students who chose to enroll 473 10
Yield rate 15.3% 90.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Not required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $72,868 $32,161
Average net price $24,318 $19,002
Tuition $57,498 $0
Room & board $16,760
Room/dormitory: $8,463

Meal plan: $6,825
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

79.0%
Average amount $50,598
100.0%
Average amount $5,444
Students receiving federal student loan 49.0%
Average amount $5,101
62.0%
Average amount $3,500
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $16,225
8.0%
Average amount $3,500

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,171
Men 44.4% Women 55.6%
109
Men 54.1% Women 45.9%
Graduate students 420
Men 40.2% Women 59.8%
42
Men 52.4% Women 47.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
N/A
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 14.7% N/A
Campus local/setting Town: Fringe City: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,400 87
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
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 9:1 2:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 70.6% 81.0%
Dropout rate 9.9% 9.5%
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
N/A