Head-to-head comparison
Bard College vs Simon's Rock at Bard College: 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 Barrytown, NY
Simon's Rock at Bard College
- Net price / year
- $31,625
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,543
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Simon's Rock at Bard College comes closer — median earnings $46,543 against a $63,250 total, vs $46,543 at Bard College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bard College | Simon's Rock at Bard College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,649 | $31,625 |
| Total net cost | $138,596 | $63,250 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,543 | $46,543 |
| Median debt | $24,254 | $24,254 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$174,936 | -$99,590 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bard College or Simon's Rock at Bard College?
Simon's Rock at Bard College, at $31,625 a year after aid versus $34,649 — a gap of $3,024 a year, or $75,346 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 Simon's Rock at Bard College graduates earn more?
Graduates of both report a median $46,543 ten years after entry, so earnings do not separate them either — the ROI difference comes entirely from what each degree costs. Figures are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, not programme-level pay.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Bard College or Simon's Rock at Bard College?
Completers at both borrow a median $24,254, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Simon's Rock at Bard College, against 68% at Bard College. 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.