New York · College profile

Barnard College: SAT & ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate and Costs

Barnard College is a private nonprofit four-year university in New York, New York, enrolling about 3,264 undergraduates. It admits roughly 9% of applicants, which makes it highly selective relative to four-year colleges nationally.

Barnard College campus
Photo: Beyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0

SAT and ACT scores at Barnard College

MeasureScore
SAT 25th percentile1470
SAT 75th percentile1560
SAT midpoint (estimated)1520
ACT 25th percentile32
ACT 75th percentile34
ACT midpoint (estimated)34

A quarter of enrolled students scored below 1470 and a quarter scored above 1560. Treat 1560 as the target that makes your score a clear strength in this applicant pool, and 1470 as the point below which the rest of your application has to carry more weight.

The two ranges describe the same class, so submit whichever test places you higher in its own range — an ACT 34 and an SAT 1560 are read as equivalent here.

Admissions and selectivity

MeasureValue
Acceptance rate8.8%
Undergraduate enrollment3,264
Student–faculty ratio10:1
SettingCity
ControlPrivate Nonprofit

Cost and financial aid

MeasureAmount
In-state tuition and fees$69,888
Out-of-state tuition and fees$69,888
Room and board$21,714
Average net price (first-year students)$28,800
Students receiving Pell grants15.9%
Students taking federal loans25.7%
Median federal loan debt at graduation$15,750

Net price is the number that matters: $28,800 is what a typical first-year student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the sticker price. Run the college's own net price calculator with your family's numbers before ruling it out on cost.

Graduation and earnings outcomes

MeasureValue
Graduation rate (6-year)93.0%
First-year retention96.6%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$80,516
Students who are first-generation15.6%

Most popular majors

Shares are of bachelor's degrees awarded, so a concentrated list usually signals a college known for those programs.

How your score compares

Take a free adaptive practice test on FunSAT, get an unofficial score estimate, and see exactly where you land inside Barnard College's reported range alongside the rest of your college list.

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Frequently asked questions

What SAT score do you need for Barnard College?

The middle 50% of enrolled students at Barnard College scored between 1470 and 1560 on the SAT. A score at or above 1560 puts you in the top quarter of admitted students; below 1470 the rest of your application carries more weight.

What ACT score do you need for Barnard College?

The middle 50% ACT range at Barnard College is 32 to 34. Aim for 34 to make the score a clear strength.

What is the acceptance rate at Barnard College?

Barnard College admits about 8.8% of applicants according to the most recent U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data.

How much does Barnard College cost?

Published tuition and fees are $69,888 in-state and $69,888 out-of-state, but the average first-year student pays a net price of $28,800 after grant aid.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution. May 2026 release (file published 2026-05-26). Score ranges and costs are reported by the institution to the U.S. Department of Education and can lag the current admissions cycle by a year or more.

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