Head-to-head comparison
Bard College vs Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science: which has better ROI?
Option A Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
Bard College
- Net price / year
- $34,649
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,543
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Paul Smiths, NY
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science
- Net price / year
- $26,683
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,145
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science comes closer — median earnings $46,145 against a $106,732 total, vs $46,543 at Bard College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bard College | Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,649 | $26,683 |
| Total net cost | $138,596 | $106,732 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,543 | $46,145 |
| Median debt | $24,254 | $22,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$174,936 | -$151,032 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bard College or Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science?
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science, at $26,683 a year after aid versus $34,649 — a gap of $7,966 a year, or $31,864 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Bard College or Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science graduates earn more?
Bard College graduates report a median $46,543 ten years after entry, $398 more than the $46,145 at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Bard College or Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science?
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science: its completers carry a median $22,750 in federal loans versus $24,254 at Bard College, a difference of $1,504. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Bard College, against 51% at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.