Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Occidental's SAT midpoint is 90 points higher than Bard's
SAT midpoint - 2
Occidental's yield is 5 pts higher than Bard's
Yield rate - 3
Occidental admits 44% vs. 52% at Bard
Acceptance rate
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- OccidentalVery selective
- BardVery selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1200–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 24–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- OccidentalTest-optional
- BardTest-optional
How they read a record
Occidental
Class rank is considered.
Bard
GPA and the high school record are required; class rank is considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Occidental | Bard |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Considered | Required |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Considered | Considered |
| College-prep program | Considered | Not considered |
| Recommendations | Considered | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Legacy status | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Occidental College Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2025 applicants;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;College Scorecard, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why