Bard College at Simon's Rock is the country's only residential college of the liberal arts and sciences specifically designed to provide highly motivated students with the opportunity to begin college after the 10th or 11th grade. Simon's Rock brings students face-to-face with big ideas, essential texts, deep and high-spirited discussion, advanced research, and the latest scholarship with professors who are tops in their fields. Our students seek opportunities to build on inspiring classroom experiences, develop confidence in who they are as they support those who are different, and most importantly, are committed to creating a better future.
At Simon's Rock, our students work toward a bachelor's degree in a remarkably individualized program. Some choose to transfer after two years with an associate degree that is highly respected by some of the most prestigious colleges and universities. Merit scholarships and need-based aid are available. The average age of entering students is 16.
For fifty years, Simon's Rock has demonstrated that high school-age students are fully capable of college work; that they thrive intellectually and socially in a small-college environment; that serving these students well requires a faculty committed to distinction in teaching and scholarship, as well as active participation in the students' social and personal development; and that a coherent general education in the liberal arts and sciences should be the foundation for early college students. Based on the success of the College and its graduates, Simon's Rock serves as a model for the growing U.S. early college movement.
As a part of the prestigious Bard network, Simon's Rock students also have access to a global consortium of institutions—including numerous civic, scientific, and art organizations. Upperclass students are encouraged to take advantage of the facilities and resources of Bard College's main campus at Annandale-on-Hudson, which offers more than 800 courses each year.
Simon's Rock students build a strong foundation for their future academic pursuits, with most completing a bachelor's degree by age 20, and 80 percent going on to graduate school. A few notable alumni include Ronan Farrow, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist; Nina Perales, vice president of litigation at Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (MALDEF); and John McWhorter, linguist; author; and political commentator for The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Los Angeles Times.
About
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Contact & Visit
Campus Visits Contact
Campus Visit Coordinator
84 Alford Road
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Experience College Life
Daniel Arts Center
Alumni Library
Student Union
Kilpatrick Athletic Center
The Snack Bar in the Student Union is a popular gathering place most evenings.
Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA
Tanglewood (music venue; summer home of Boston Symphony Orchestra)
Town of Great Barrington (shopping, restaurants)
Various skiing, hiking destinations
The town of Great Barrington is utilized extensively by students for all shopping, dining, off campus internships, volunteer opportunities, jobs and off campus housing.
Campus Tours
9-5:00 pm
800-235-7186
Dates: Year-round
Times: Very Flexible
Average Length: 1 hour
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Admissions
Admissions
Overall
From The School
Simon's Rock seeks students who are independent-minded, self-directed, creative, and passionate about learning. The admission staff works closely with prospective students and their parents to ensure that the decision to enter Simon's Rock is the right one. The College understands that students are not defined solely by grades and test scores. For this reason, two essays and a personal interview are required of each applicant. The application also requires an official high school transcript, three letters of recommendation, and a parent statement. Standardized test scores are optional for most applicants; international students for whom English is not a first language must submit TOEFL scores.
Candidates should submit their materials by one of a series of submission dates listed on the Simon's Rock website and will receive a decision by the corresponding notification date, which is typically within six weeks. Applying by one of the earlier dates is strongly encouraged. There is no application fee.
To schedule an interview or request further information, students should contact the Office of Admission at admit@simons-rock.edu or 800-235-7186.
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Academic Programs
We take students seriously as scholars and as thinkers. We believe their ideas matter. In small classes with individual attention, students learn through connecting and synthesizing—not memorizing and regurgitating.
The academic program at Simon's Rock combines a core curriculum in the liberal arts and sciences with extensive opportunities for students to pursue their own interests through electives, tutorials, independent studies, internships, and study abroad opportunities.
The core curriculum comprises approximately half of students' total course load during their first two years. Requirements include the Writing and Thinking workshop; first-year, sophomore, and cultural perspectives seminars; and courses in the arts, mathematics, natural sciences, and foreign languages. The College also requires students to participate in the campus Active Community Engagement program, which involves them in athletics, health and wellness education, and community service opportunities on and off campus.
All new students are assigned a faculty adviser, who meets with them weekly during their first semester and regularly throughout the rest of their time at Simon's Rock. Classes are small, faculty members are accessible, and opportunities to pursue individual interests are extensive. After earning the associate degree, many students begin work toward a bachelor's degree in one of dozens of concentrations. Some others transfer to highly competitive colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad. Through the sophomore planning process, students receive individualized guidance from advisers and faculty as they explore options for their last two years of undergraduate study.
The academic program is supplemented by a number of signature programs. The Simon's Rock/Columbia University Engineering Program offers three years at Simon's Rock and two years at Columbia's School of Engineering and Applied Science, after which students receive both a bachelor of arts from Simon's Rock and a bachelor of science from Columbia University. A similar arrangement exists with the engineering school at Dartmouth University. A partnership with Vermont Law School offers two accelerated degree programs through which students earn a bachelor of arts from Simon's Rock and a master's degree in Environmental Law and Policy, or Energy Regulation and Law, from Vermont Law School, in a total of four years. Additionally, the Simon's Rock/Upstate Medical University program allows students to earn a BA from Simon's Rock—in a pre-med or another concentration—and then matriculate directly into SUNY's Upstate Medical University. The MCAT is waived for students admitted to the BA/MD program.
Through Simon's Rock Scholars at Oxford, a select group of students is admitted each year to spend their junior year at Lincoln College or St Catherine's College of the University of Oxford in England. The College also offers a half-or full-year program in creative writing at the Centre for New Writing at the University of Manchester in the UK and the opportunity to pursue Chinese language immersion study at Qingdao University in China. Students interested in theater can spend a year at London Dramatic Academy; those interested in photography can study at the International Center of Photography in New York City.
Majors and Degrees Offered
At Simon's Rock, we offer associate and bachelor's degrees.
While studying for the associate degree, students take elective courses in areas of special interest while completing courses in a variety of disciplines within the liberal arts. Students may complete the bachelor's degree in a concentration focused on a traditional discipline, or choose one of several interdisciplinary concentrations. Students may also design a second concentration.
Faculty and Class Information
Graduation Rates
Majors
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AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
African-American/Black Studies.
American/United States Studies/Civilization.
Asian Studies/Civilization.
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other.
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BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
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COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
Computer Science.
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EDUCATION.
Education, General.
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ENGINEERING.
Pre-Engineering.
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
Creative Writing.
General Literature.
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FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
French Language and Literature.
German Language and Literature.
Linguistics.
Spanish Language and Literature.
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HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies.
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HISTORY.
History, General.
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MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
Applied Mathematics, General.
Mathematics, General.
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MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis.
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies.
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General.
Natural Sciences.
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NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION.
Environmental Studies.
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PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Philosophy.
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PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Chemistry, General.
Physics, General.
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PSYCHOLOGY.
Psychology, General.
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SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Economics, General.
Geography, Other.
Political Science and Government, General.
Social Sciences, Other.
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VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Art History, Criticism and Conservation.
Art/Art Studies, General.
Dance, General.
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
Fine/Studio Arts, General.
Intermedia/Multimedia.
Music, General.
Visual and Performing Arts, General.
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Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
For 2019-20, tuition and fees were $55,292, and room and board were $15,364. Other fees included health services fees of $1409, a student activity fee of $200, and a $650 orientation fee for first-year students.
Financial Aid
Simon's Rock is committed to making an early college education available to a diverse group of highly motivated, academically qualified students. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for federal and state grant and loan aid, as well as institutional scholarships and grants. International students are eligible to receive Simon's Rock scholarships and grants. Approximately 85 percent of students receive some form of financial aid.
Applications for admission and financial aid are considered on a rolling basis as long as space remains available; early application is encouraged. All applicants will be considered for any non-need-based scholarships for which they are eligible; no additional application is required for non-need-based scholarships.
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Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
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Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Financial Aid Rating
Student Body
Student Body
Overall
From The School
Our students come from all over the world, and they bring a wide range of perspectives and talents. At Simon's Rock, they find a place to belong. One thing students have in common is a love of learning. Not all students are characterized as gifted or advanced, but all are ready and eager to learn among others who are similarly engaged and curious about the world. Some were students who didn't raise their hands during class, who were bored and restless—hiding their curiosity in order to fit in. Others exhausted all the AP classes their high school had to offer and were hungry for more ways to deepen their knowledge and expand their intellect.
On campus, students can choose from a packed schedule of guest speakers and performances; a range of programs designed to explore and promote diversity; a long list of student-run clubs and organizations (like the International Student Association, Pre-Med Society, LGBTQ+ Student Alliance, Black Student Union, Asian Student Association, and Social Justice Committee); a constantly updated schedule of conferences, panels, and visiting artists and scholars; a Community Service Program with extensive ties to local and regional agencies and institutions; and an inventive athletic program—it's all part of our campus-wide commitment to living in smarter, more creative, engaged, and healthier ways.
Student Body Profile
Demographics
Students Say
Campus Life
Campus Life
Overview
From The School
Location
Simon's Rock is located in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, named "Best Small Town" in America by Smithsonian magazine, and the perfect home for a dynamic rural college experience.
Built on 275 rolling and wooded acres in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, the campus is just 2.5 hours from Boston and New York City. The Berkshires' natural beauty and variety of cultural attractions make the area an unusually appealing place in which to live. The terrain is excellent for hiking, bicycling, cross-country and Alpine skiing, canoeing, and climbing. Nationally renowned arts organizations, including the Tanglewood Music Festival, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, and Shakespeare and Company are located nearby. Great Barrington is a thriving business community with shops, restaurants, and a variety of schools and service agencies at which Simon's Rock students work and volunteer.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
Simon's Rock offers an unabashedly intellectual, proudly independent, creative college community, including the facilities that support academic exploration, self-expression, and development of a sense of purpose.
- The Fisher Science and Academic Center houses the College's biology, chemistry, ecology, and physics laboratories; research labs for faculty members and students; classrooms and tutorial rooms; a sixty-seat lecture center; and faculty offices.
- The Daniel Arts Center incorporates a 350-seat theater and concert hall, black box theater, dance studio, and rehearsal facilities; painting, drawing, photography, ceramics, metalworking, printmaking, 3-D, video production, and digital arts studios; exhibition areas; and spaces for large-scale art and set construction.
- A music hall, recording studio, and music practice rooms are also available to students in the arts. The Liebowitz International Center houses faculty and programs focused on global issues, as well as state-of-the-art classrooms.
- The campus library is a unique space, one that combines both academic and social aspects, playing an important role in students' lives. The library provides a comfortable, welcoming place for reading, research, and reflection, as well as room to collaborate and engage with a like-minded community. Simon's Rock students also have access to the Bard College library. An interlibrary loan system provides access to other college and university collections.
- The Kilpatrick Athletic Center includes a basketball court, elevated track, eight-lane swimming pool, sauna, rock-climbing wall, indoor cycling studio, squash courts, and a full-service fitness center.
Campus Life
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Dorms Coed
Dorms Male
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Students Say
Special Needs Admissions
Documentation Required for LD
Documentation of a disability must substantiate the need for specific accommodations requested. All documentation must be current.Documentation Required for ADHD
Documentation of a disability must substantiate the need for specific accommodations requested. All documentation must be current.Special Need Services Offered
Student Activities
Sports
Soccer
Swimming
Soccer
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Student Services
Sustainability
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/