Barnard College

Barnard College is a non-profit private higher education institution that first opened its doors to future graduates back in 1889 in America. Now Barnard College is located in the city of New York, where a small campus is located.

• Location: New York, Upper West Side of Manhattan, USA,
• Year founded: 1889,
• Type: private women's liberal arts college,
• Level of study: undergraduate,
• Language of instruction: English.

Barnard College is one of the oldest women's colleges in the United States, founded in 1889. Since its founding, the college's mission has remained unchanged: to provide talented young women with a quality liberal arts education in a community led by women. Over more than 130 years, the college has become a renowned center for humanities and scientific education.

Barnard College operates in close partnership with Columbia University. Students remain part of an intimate, supportive community while studying within the environment of a large research university. The curriculum encompasses a wide range of academic disciplines in the liberal arts tradition.

Education at Barnard is built on the liberal arts model with its own Foundations program and a wide range of fields of study. Small class sizes and close interaction with faculty are combined with access to Columbia University's resources.

Students receive comprehensive support: individual advising through the dean's office (Deans' Office and Advising), Access Barnard programs and support for first-generation students and those from low-income families (FLI), career guidance through Beyond Barnard, as well as research opportunities, including the Summer Research Institute.

Barnard College is an undergraduate college specializing in the liberal arts. It is part of Columbia University's system and is one of its four undergraduate colleges.

The college offers a wide range of academic departments and majors, including Africana Studies, American Studies, anthropology, architecture, art history, Asian and Middle Eastern cultures, biological sciences, chemistry, and many others. A dual-degree program is available with List College of the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), allowing students to simultaneously earn a Bachelor of Arts in liberal arts from Barnard and a Bachelor of Arts in Jewish studies. Students also have access to courses and research centers at Columbia University, including the Milstein Center for Teaching and Learning.

• Barnard — historically one of the first colleges to open access to quality higher education for women.
• New York itself serves as an «urban learning laboratory» for students — some classes and internships take place off campus.
• In the summer, the college runs pre-college programs for high school students, including the NextGen Leadership Institute.

We are talking about the American College, which for the past few years has been consistently included in the TOP of the best universities in the world.

Extracurricular life at Barnard is rich and varied. The college has numerous student organizations and clubs, and the residences run their own events program «Bear Essentials», aimed at developing community and leadership skills.

Campus sports life is also well developed, with sections and competitions.

• Partnership with Columbia University: access to faculty, resources, and more than 3,000 courses.
• Liberal arts education.
• International student community from dozens of countries around the world.
• Located in New York — one of the world's centers of education and culture.
• A well-developed system of academic and career support.

American College is a small one. Every year about 3000 people study here. The teaching staff of Barnard College is about 700 teachers of the highest category. In addition, the university is actively involved in academic and student exchanges between universities across the globe. 

Infrastructure Barnard College

While studying, students of the College can always use literature from the university library. Also, students are provided with accommodation in a dormitory, there is access to sports facilities on the campus. The institution of higher education is also famous for its membership in such an authoritative group as Columbia University, Sport affiliations and memberships: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and others.

The academic year at Barnard is divided into two semesters. The fall semester begins in September, the spring semester — in January. The college admits students for both the fall and spring semesters.

A non-refundable application fee is charged when submitting an application (a fee waiver option is available). In addition to tuition, additional expense categories include:

• room and board;
• mandatory health insurance for international students and VISP program participants;
• visa expenses (processing of DS-2019 documents for a J-1 visa for international students).

The admission procedure at Barnard College includes the following main steps:

1. Choosing a submission round — Early Decision (binding) or Regular Decision;
2. Submitting an application through the Common Application with a personal essay and short Barnard essays;
3. Providing transcripts and an academic recommendation letter;
4. Optionally — submitting SAT/ACT scores (test-optional);
5. For non-native English speakers — confirming language proficiency;
6. Review of the application by the admissions committee and receiving a decision.

Smapse specialists will guide you through every step of the admissions process.

According to data from fall 2024, international students made up approximately 16% of Barnard's student body and represented 60 countries. 61% of students identify as students of color, and 16% — are the first in their families to attend college (first-generation). The college follows a test-optional policy for SAT and ACT for applicants in admission cycles through 2027.

Career development for students is supported by the Beyond Barnard service: career counseling, internships, mentorship programs, and professional events. Alumnae have access to accelerated educational pathways, including 4+1 and BA/MA programs in partnership with Columbia University, as well as preparation for admission to professional and medical schools.

In order to replenish the list of students at this university in New York, it is necessary to timely submit a package of documents and report on their past academic progress. Also, the applying committee makes decisions about the recruitment of students based on the results of the exams passed by each applicant. Locals and visitors from different countries around the world apply for places at the university. As the statistics show, three applications apply for each student’s place.

Tuition at Barnard College

Each year of study here is traditionally divided into two semesters for the United States. Education is conducted on a fee basis. Each student is obliged to pay about $ 10,000 per semester. The amount is not so small, but students can return some of the costs by receiving a scholarship for academic success. When planning to enter and study at a higher educational institution, it is worthwhile to pre-specify all information and data through the official website (portal address https://barnard.edu).

Barnard College covers 100% of the demonstrated financial need of enrolled students. Admissions are need-blind for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, and need-aware for international applicants. Financial aid is processed based on the CSS Profile and FAFSA.

The college is a partner of QuestBridge, an organization that supports talented students from low-income families. A fee waiver is available when submitting an application.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision