Barnard College

What is the accreditation of Barnard College?

Barnard College is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, or MSCHE. Barnard has its own institutional accreditation; its affiliation with Columbia does not mean prospective students should treat Columbia's accreditation record as Barnard's.

Institutional accreditation evaluates a college as a whole against an accreditor's standards. It is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid, but it does not automatically guarantee that another college will accept a Barnard course or that a degree meets the requirements of a licensed profession. Programmatic accreditation, when relevant to a particular profession, is a separate question. Students planning a licensure-dependent career should check the applicable program and state licensing rules.

What are the admission requirements at Barnard College?

Barnard uses selective, holistic undergraduate admissions rather than open admission. First-year applicants generally submit an application and Barnard-specific responses, a secondary-school transcript, a school report and teacher recommendations. The college assesses academic preparation in the context of the applicant's school and opportunities, rather than admitting students through a published minimum GPA alone.

Applicants should check the admissions instructions for their intended entry year before deciding whether to submit SAT or ACT scores: testing policies can change by cycle. In the reported entering class, about 38% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 16% submitted ACT scores. Those figures describe score submission, not a testing requirement. Applicants educated in a language other than English should also review Barnard's current English-proficiency rules and available ways to satisfy them.

Admission is competitive. In the reported admissions cycle, Barnard admitted 1,046 of 11,836 first-year applicants, or about 9%; 718 enrolled. Barnard offers application rounds with different deadlines and commitment terms, including Early Decision and Regular Decision. An applicant considering Early Decision should examine its binding commitment and financial-aid process before applying.

What are the application fees and waivers at Barnard College?

Barnard's reported undergraduate application fee is $75. This is an application charge, not an enrollment deposit or part of tuition. Applicants should confirm the amount shown in the application for their entry year before submitting it.

Fee waivers are available to eligible applicants who face financial hardship. Applicants can indicate fee-waiver eligibility through the application process and should follow Barnard's instructions for any required confirmation. Because an application fee is ordinarily collected at submission, students seeking a waiver should address it before submitting rather than assume a payment can be reversed later.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Barnard College?

Barnard students can explore Army, Navy and Air Force ROTC through arrangements with cooperating institutions rather than a Barnard-operated ROTC unit. The host program determines its training location, enrollment procedures and whether a Barnard student can participate in a particular course or scholarship track.

ROTC participation and an ROTC scholarship are not the same thing. Scholarships have separate selection and eligibility rules, and accepting certain benefits can create a military service obligation. Interested students should speak with the relevant host ROTC program and Barnard's academic advisers about scheduling, credit and degree requirements before making a commitment.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Barnard College?

Barnard considers transfer applicants for fall and spring entry and generally accepts eligible college coursework from accredited institutions. Applying as a transfer student requires a separate review of both admission and prior credits: an offer of admission does not mean every completed course will count toward a Barnard degree.

Transfer applicants should expect to provide college transcripts and information about their secondary-school education, along with the application materials specified for their entry term. Barnard evaluates coursework for credit and for its fit with degree and major requirements. Students with substantial prior study should pay particular attention to Barnard's limits on transferable credit and its requirement to complete part of the degree in residence.

Deadlines and documentation can differ between fall and spring entry. Before committing to enroll, a transfer applicant should request the official credit evaluation and discuss any unresolved major or Foundations requirements with the appropriate adviser.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Barnard College?

Barnard students can pursue approved study abroad as part of their undergraduate education. Depending on the destination and academic plan, an opportunity may run for a semester, an academic year or a shorter period, and may be offered through a partner or another approved provider rather than operated directly by Barnard.

Advance academic approval matters. Students should confirm how courses will apply to their major and Barnard's degree requirements before departure, and review eligibility, language preparation, visas and deadlines with study-abroad advisers. Financial aid treatment can vary by program and term; an approved program should not be assumed to have the same out-of-pocket cost as a semester in New York.