BARD COLLEGE

Bard College seeks to inspire curiosity, a love of learning, idealism, and a commitment to the link between higher education and civic participation.

Academics at Bard focus on giving students a strong scholarly foundation with our core curriculum, then encouraging them to explore individual academic interests.

In the classroom, the level of academic discourse is high, and students are in close contact with scholars who are active in their disciplines alongside teaching. The College provides a beautiful setting in which students pursue their academic interests and craft a rich cultural and social life.

Explore Bard’s Academics Division and Programs →

Watch: Annie, a premed biology major at Bard, explores the Reem-Kayden Center for Science and Computation.

Inside and outside the classroom, the focus of student life at Bard College is on campus. From its historic Hudson Valley setting to its state-of-the-art science and arts facilities, the College offers an idyllic environment where students can enjoy a rich social life interwoven with their cultural and intellectual pursuits.

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Photo by Jonatha Asiedu ’24

Civic engagement is at the core of Bard College’s institutional mission, reflecting the fundamental belief that higher education institutions can and should operate in the public interest. Bard uses its resources to develop partnerships that address local, national, and global problems, reach underserved populations, and tackle critical issues of education and public policy.

Visit the Center for Civic Engagement →

Bard College Earns Recognition for Commitment to First-Generation Student Success

FirstGen Forward is an organization which aims to accelerate the success of first-generation students in education, career, and life.

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Sonita Alizada ’23 Begins a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford in Fall 2025

“[Bard] faculty have been incredibly supportive, offering guidance, mentorship, and resources," she said.

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Former Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer ’95 To Speak at the Levy Economics Institute on September 16

Her talk “The Importance of Official Data in Assessing Economic Conditions” will be livestreamed.

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Photo by Chris Kayden

Bard College offers the best of both worlds: a traditional liberal arts college with exceptional programs in the fine and performing arts. In small classes taught by notable faculty, students work closely with top professionals in their fields. All students, whatever their major, are encouraged to take advantage of the College’s high-level arts programming and to cultivate their artistic abilities.

Discover the Division of the Arts →