Longy School of Music of Bard College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It enrolls 10 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
56/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes73
Value9
Affordability3
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Longy School of Music of Bard College.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Longy School of Music of Bard College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
11.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Longy School of Music of Bard College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $38,530 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$38,530
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
6%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
12%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$55,275
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,738
Books & Supplies
$500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$72,450
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$10,25025%percentile
$24,254Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$28,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,000
↓ $5,254
No Pell $18,876
↓ $5,378
Dependent students $19,000
↓ $5,254
Independent students $15,160
↓ $9,094
Female students $16,500
↓ $7,754
Male students $19,500
↓ $4,754
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($24,254), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
71% of full-time students who enrolled at Longy School of Music of Bard College graduate within six years, and 66% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
71%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
66%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Longy School of Music of Bard College earn a median of $46,543 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$46,543
Earning > $25K
67%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$40,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$41,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,600, about 16% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Longy School of Music of Bard College is home to 10 students, an intimate, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
10
Part-Time
20%
First-Generation
12%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
International 70.0%7
White 20.0%2
Asian 10.0%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Longy School of Music of Bard College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityCambridge, Massachusetts
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
12%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Branch campus
What You Can Study
Longy School of Music of Bard College offers
a focused set of programs:
5 distinct programs across
2 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Longy School of Music of Bard College is 3:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
3:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$24M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$51,573
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
9 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
9
100%
$51,573
Pros & Cons of Longy School of Music of Bard College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Longy School of Music of Bard College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Above-average graduation rate
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
First-year retention is below typical
High published cost of attendance before aid
Most students don't qualify for need-based federal aid
Best for:
Based on the data, Longy School of Music of Bard College is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Longy School of Music of Bard College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Longy School of Music of Bard College.
How much does Longy School of Music of Bard College cost?
The average net price after aid at Longy School of Music of Bard College is $38,530 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Longy School of Music of Bard College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $46,543 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $38,530 per year. That's roughly 1.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Longy School of Music of Bard College known for?
Longy School of Music of Bard College is best known for its programs in Music, Teaching Specific Subjects, Music. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Longy School of Music of Bard College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Longy School of Music of Bard College are $46,543, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Longy School of Music of Bard College accredited?
Yes. Longy School of Music of Bard College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Longy School of Music of Bard College?
Longy School of Music of Bard College enrolls 10 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Longy School of Music of Bard College?
Longy School of Music of Bard College graduates 71% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Longy School of Music of Bard College a public or private college?
Longy School of Music of Bard College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Longy School of Music of Bard College located?
Longy School of Music of Bard College is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
What programs does Longy School of Music of Bard College offer?
Longy School of Music of Bard College offers 5 distinct programs. The most popular include Music, Teaching Specific Subjects, Music.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Longy School of Music of Bard College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Longy School of Music of Bard College is 3:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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