A proud member of the Seven Sisters, Barnard College offers ambitious young women a unique opportunity to experience both the intimate community of a liberal arts college and the robust resources of an Ivy League university. As an affiliate under the Columbia University umbrella, Barnard allows students to cross-register for classes at the prestigious neighboring institution. The 2026 US News and World Report National Liberal Arts College Ranking places Barnard at #13 due to the college’s academic renown, impressive history of feminist advancement, and close-knit campus culture.  

What Is Barnard College?

Barnard is located in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan’s Upper West Side. 3,234 women are currently enrolled at Barnard according to the school’s 2024-25 Common Data Set. Among members of the Class of 2028, 17% are the first in their families to attend college, and 14% come from outside the United States. 46 states and 36 countries are represented in the class.

How to Get Into Barnard: Barnard Admissions Requirements

Barnard’s admissions cycle has grown increasingly competitive in recent years. Despite lacking a minimum GPA requirement, Barnard almost exclusively admits applicants who have excelled academically. Students who take the most rigorous high school coursework available to them will stand out when applying to Barnard.

Barnard College GPA Requirements

Admissions officers at Barnard review each applicant “contextually and holistically.” In other words, they take the full picture of an applicant’s background and experiences into account when making their decision, not just the applicant’s academic performance. 

However, academic performance is still one of the most important components of this process. Any shortcomings in this area should be supplemented by strong showings in other application areas, such as essays and recommendations.

Does Barnard Look at Class Rank?

The 2024-25 Common Data Set indicates just how important strong academic performance is to getting into Barnard. The data reveal that 90% of current Barnard students graduated in the top tenth of their high school class. 100% graduated in the top quarter.

Barnard SAT/ACT Score Requirements

Barnard is test-optional through 2027, but the Ivy Coach crystal ball tells us that this policy will not last for too much longer.

Amongst members of the Barnard Class of 2028, 35% submitted SAT scores, and 15% submitted ACT scores. 

	SAT	ACT
Median	1,510	34
Mid 50% Range	1,480 — 1,540	32 — 34

Does Barnard Superscore Students’ SAT or ACT scores?

A superscore combines the highest section scores from each individual test sitting for admissions evaluation. Barnard superscores both the SAT and the ACT, but submitting multiple test administrations is only recommended for the purposes of superscoring. It shows Barnard that you had to work harder than many to achieve your scores (which isn’t a good thing!), so we at Ivy Coach approach the practice with caution. 

What High School Courses Does Barnard Require?

Barnard recommends the following academic preparation for all prospective students:

“To be well-prepared for Barnard, it is important to think about the academic community you are hoping to join. Barnard’s general education requirements cover a wide range of subjects: literature, the social sciences, language and the arts, lab sciences, and quantitative areas. For this reason, you should acquire a strong foundation in high school, taking courses from the core academic subjects: math, science, English, history/social science, and foreign language. Do your best to take the most rigorous classes available to you in which you can do your best work. If an area is a relative weakness, continue taking that subject while pursuing advanced coursework in areas of relative strength. Remember, we hope to see how you might contribute to our intellectual community, and your choices tell us what kind of a student you will be.”

It is essential that all students with sights set on highly selective colleges anywhere in America take four years of classes in all core subjects listed above. What’s more, foreign language study should ideally begin in grade 8.

What Extracurriculars Does Barnard Look For in Applicants?

A myth often circulates during admissions season that we at Ivy Coach have made it our duty to continually debunk: the myth of the well-rounded applicant. Yes, many of the most competitive applicants to Barnard have gone above and beyond in many different domains in their lives, from sports, clubs, and art to research, activism, and professional preparedness. But these applicants are careful to frame their applications around the things they are most passionate about.

Admissions officers at Barnard seek to create well-rounded classes composed of students who are experts in their respective fields: the prodigy musicians, groundbreaking chemists, and compelling debaters. Homogeneity is the last thing Barnard desires.

Barnard Application Requirements

Barnard applicants must complete The Common Application, the Barnard Writing Supplement, a counselor recommendation, and two teacher recommendations.

Let’s focus on each individual component and discuss how students should complete them to give them the best shot of admission.

Who to Ask For Letters of Recommendation

Applicants to Barnard should ask two teachers, ideally two junior year teachers in core subjects, in addition to their school counselor, for letters of recommendation.

Does Barnard Require an Alumni Interview?

Barnard does not conduct interviews as part of the application process.

What are Barnard’s Supplemental Essay Topics?

Essay responses can make or break an application. It is crucial that an applicant think through each response to the Barnard Writing Supplement, as admissions officers probe how well an applicant knows the specific culture and history of Barnard through the responses. For the past admissions cycle, these were the questions asked in the supplement:

Required: Rooted in a history of trailblazing women, Barnard College is a collaborative community of care shaped by bold women with a multitude of perspectives. Choose one woman— historical, fictional, contemporary, or personally significant— whose views differ from your own. Imagine a conversation with her. What would you discuss? How might her perspective challenge or shift your own? Share how this new mindset could influence your approach to learning and engagement both in and beyond the classroom at Barnard. (200-250 words).

Barnard College Application Deadlines

Barnard’s two admissions rounds are Early Decision and Regular Decision.

Early Decision applications to Barnard are binding. They are due on November 1st. 

Regular Decision applications are non-binding, and they are due on January 1st.

Barnard Acceptance Rate and Statistics

So just how difficult is it to become a member of the Barnard community? 11,836 students applied for admission to the Class of 2028, and 1,046, or 8.84%, were accepted. 

How Much Does Barnard College Cost?

The cost of tuition at Barnard College for the 2026-2027 academic year was $73,120. Additional fees added $2,472 to this charge, while housing costs clocked in at $14,054. Food is made available at a cost of $9,204. 

All told, the total cost of attendance at Barnard ranged from $86,572 to $103,00 this past year. A comprehensive breakdown of these costs is available on Barnard’s website.

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into Barnard

Ivy Coach’s Barnard expertise goes far. We understand the college’s history, traditions, culture, and the typical admitted student profile.

If you’re interested in Ivy Coach’s assistance in optimizing your child’s case for admission to Barnard, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch.