Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
97.2% Acceptance Rate
Bard College at Simon's Rock — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
97.2%Acceptance Rate
3.54Avg GPA
$82,465Annual Cost
$46,543Grad Salary
23.5%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
97.2%
Avg GPA
3.54
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Need-Based Aid
23.5% receive Pell
Bard College at Simon's Rock Bard College at Simon's Rock, located in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, is the nation's premier early college institution for students ready to begin college after 10th or 11th grade. Founded in 1966, Simon's Rock offers an intensive liberal arts curriculum with a 7:1 student-faculty ratio. The 275-acre campus features modern facilities including the Fisher Science and Academic Center and the Daniel Arts Center. Students can earn an AA after two years and most continue to complete a BA in this unique educational environment that combines the best of high school and college.
Simon's Rock takes pride in its intellectually adventurous community where young scholars thrive in a college setting. The curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary learning with opportunities for original research across all fields. Campus life includes arts performances, academic conferences, and outdoor activities in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains. Recent initiatives include expanded STEM offerings and global studies programs. Simon's Rock's distinctive educational model provides an unparalleled opportunity for motivated young students to accelerate their intellectual and personal growth.
Bard College at Simon's Rock Acceptance Rate
Bard College at Simon's Rock (Simons Rock) runs an open-access admission policy — with a 97.2% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 97.2% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.54 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.34 – 3.53
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.09
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Bard College at Simon's Rock Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Bard College at Simon's Rock follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Simons Rock reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Simons Rock GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Simons Rock is 3.54. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.24 and 3.54? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.74–3.94.Simons Rock GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.54 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.34 – 3.53
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.14 – 3.33
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.13
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Relocated from Great Barrington, MA to Barrytown, NY (former Unification Theological Seminary property, now called "Massena") starting fall 2025; final Massachusetts commencement was May 17, 2025.
- Test-blind policy - SAT/ACT scores are not considered in the admission decision at all.
- Recently reported acceptance rate in the 51-96% range depending on source and cycle; treat with caution given the school just underwent a major operational transition.
- Offers a two-year Bard Academy high school pathway alongside the Early College degree program, both now operating from the Barrytown site.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Simons Rock
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Bard College at Simon's Rock's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Bard College at Simon's Rock (Simons Rock) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Simons Rock is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Simons Rock Without SAT or ACT?
Simons Rock neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average — otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Simons Rock
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Simons Rock's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Redirect all campus-specific planning to Barrytown, NY - Great Barrington, MA is closed
Simon's Rock closed its historic Great Barrington, Massachusetts campus after its final commencement on May 17, 2025, and relocated to Bard's "Massena" campus in Barrytown, NY (adjacent to Bard's main Annandale-on-Hudson campus), effective fall 2025. Any admissions planning, visit scheduling, or "why this location" essay content must reference Barrytown, not the old Massachusetts location.
Use the two-essay writing supplement to demonstrate early-college readiness specifically
Transfer/early-entrance applicants submit two essays alongside an academic advisor evaluation and a professor evaluation - these should directly address readiness to leave traditional high school early and thrive in a residential college environment at 16-17, not a generic "why I want to attend college" narrative.
Target the Academic Excellence Program (AEP) scholarship tiers explicitly if strong academically
AEP offers three defined tiers - Founder's Scholarship ($50,000/year), Provost's Scholarship ($25,000/year), and Faculty Scholarship ($10,000/year) - awarded based on demonstrated academic achievement and intellectual promise; a strong applicant should treat this as a real, named target rather than assuming merit aid is vague or unstructured.
Understand this is a genuine early-college entry point, not a transfer-only option
Students typically enter after 10th or 11th grade rather than after high school graduation - a family considering this route should confirm the student's academic and personal readiness for full residential college life at 16-17, since this is a core structural feature of the program, not an alternative pathway for struggling traditional students.
Expert Insight:
Because so much online content (including recent aggregator admissions pages) still describes the "Great Barrington, Massachusetts" campus as if it's current, families researching this school risk building visit plans, essays, or expectations around a location that physically closed in 2025 - always confirm Barrytown, NY as the operating location before proceeding with any location-specific content.
Simons Rock Profile
Full Name
Bard College at Simon's Rock (Simons Rock)
City
Great Barrington
State
Massachusetts
ZIP Code
01230-9702
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Simons Rock Degree Worth It?
Simons Rock offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes — the figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $78,300, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.1%.
How much does a degree from Simons Rock Cost?
The sticker price is $82,465/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
23.5% of students receive a Pell Grant and 46% take federal loans at Simons Rock — file your FAFSA early and list Simons Rock as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Simons Rock Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $46,543 — about 15% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at Simons Rock
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Simons Rock Admissions
Median earnings for Bard College at Simon's Rock graduates sit around $46,543 a year.
At about $82,465 a year, Bard College at Simon's Rock's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
Bard College at Simon's Rock's Pell Grant rate of 23.5% sits below the national average — merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 97.2%, Bard College at Simon's Rock's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Bard College at Simon's Rock average a 3.54 GPA.
Bard College at Simon's Rock doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.24 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.14, Bard College at Simon's Rock becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
Bard College at Simon's Rock follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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