Barnard College Tuition and Fees

By Susan Guillory

(Last Updated – 06/2025)

Barnard College, located in New York City, is a private liberal arts college for women. It’s known for being among the most selective schools in the country. Located on four acres adjacent to Columbia University, it enrolls slightly more than 3,000 students per year. It prides itself on the quality of its education, its single-sex heritage and focus, its urban location, and the fact that 59% of students are people of color.

Total Cost of Attendance

Barnard’s cost of attendance for the 2024-25 school year was $94,582. Compared to the national average of $60,420 at private schools, this is quite a bit higher: more than 50%, in fact.

Financial Aid

At Barnard, almost two-thirds (62%) of students receive one or more types of financial aid, including student loans, grants, and scholarships.

Barnard is need-blind, meaning that the school does not consider a student’s ability to pay for education during the application process.

Explore financial aid options: New York Student Loans & Scholarships.

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need or merit. Students who qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, or financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, and nonprofit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state, federal, and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  US Department of Education – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

•  Scholarship Search Tool

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

Of the students who use financial aid to help with the Barnard tuition, 57% have federal loans and 8% take out private student loans averaging $22,861.

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or -affiliated organizations. While federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, since it generally has better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your tuition payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

To attend Barnard College for four years, the total cost of tuition, fees, room, board, and other expenses, based on 2024-25 numbers, would total $378,328. This is significantly higher than the average four-year cost at a private university of $241,680.

Here’s some Student Loan & Scholarship Information for you.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

The total cost for undergraduate Barnard tuition and fees, plus books and supplies, in 2024-25 was $71,038. Compare this to the national average of $41,540.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Barnard, as a college, does not offer graduate degrees, though it does align with universities, such as Columbia and University of Delaware, to inform students of appropriate post-grad programs. Barnard alumnae may use graduate loans to help with the cost of attendance if they choose to pursue additional levels of education.