Bard College at Simon's Rock

Why Wait? Age Doesn’t Define Intellect at Bard College at Simon’s Rock

Start college early after 10th or 11th grade (usually age 16 or 17) and earn your BA degree two years early at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, the only 4-year college in the country specifically designed for students ready to enter college early. Simon’s Rock offers a unique opportunity for students to join a community of motivated scholars who are ready to pursue their passions now, rather than waiting until the traditional age to begin college.

Academic Excellence

With a curriculum in the liberal arts and sciences, taught by supportive, highly trained faculty, who are leading scholars in their field, Simon’s Rock is tied for No. 2 for Most Innovative School and tied No. 1 for Best Undergraduate Teaching by U.S. News and World Report (2023-2024). Simon’s Rock was also named a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for U.S. Scholars for the 2022-23 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. With over 35 degree concentrations and an average class size of 10 students, Simon’s Rock students have the opportunity to receive excellent mentorship from their faculty and develop close relationships with their peers.

Life Outside the Classroom

Located on a 270-acre woodland campus in the idyllic and culturally abounding Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, students have plentiful opportunities to experience nature, art, and the small-town charm of Great Barrington; all while being surrounded by a close-knit community of peers on campus. Campus life opportunities include clubs such as anime club, art club, motorcycle club, council for inclusive community, student government, and many more. Playing on athletic teams (soccer, basketball, swimming, and more), participating in music ensembles, choreographing in the dance concert, acting in a theater production, gardening in the campus farm, and so much more awaits you at Simon’s Rock.

Study Away and Dual Degree Opportunities

Expand your Simon’s Rock experience by studying away at one of the 15+ study away and dual degree programs with partner institutions.

Opportunities to study away include:

• Montserrat Program
• Open Society University Network (OSUN) Program
• National Theater Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center
• London School of Economics and Political Science
• University of Manchester - Centre for New Writing
• The Umbra Institute
• University College Cork
• Bard Globalization and International Affairs Program
• Spanish Language Studies Abroad
• Simon’s Rock Scholars at Lincoln College, Oxford University
• Simon’s Rock Scholars at Saint Catherine’s College, Oxford University

• Chinese Language Study at Qingdao University

  And more programs…
  

Earn a dual degrees from the following institutions by completing the dual degree pathways:

Columbia University’s Engineering Program

• 3/2 Program: Spend 3 years at Simon’s Rock, then 2 years at Columbia University

Dartmouth University’s Engineering Program

• 3/2 Program: Spend 3 years at Simon’s Rock, then 2 years at Dartmouth University
• 2-1-1-1 Program: Spend 2 years at Simon’s Rock, 1 year at Dartmouth University, return to Simon’s Rock for 1 year, and finish the final year at Dartmouth University

Vermont Law School

• Spend 3 years at Simon’s Rock and earn a BA degree, then 1 year at Vermont Law School to earn an MA

Bard College’s Levy Economics Institute

• 3/2 BA/MS Program: Earn a BA in the concentration of your choice from Simon’s Rock and then an MS in Economic Theory and Policy in 5 years total.

Longy School of Music of Bard College

• Guaranteed Entrance Program: Earn a BA at Simon’s Rock, then enroll in the Longy School of Music of Bard College to earn either an MA or Master of Music degree.

Earn your BA Degree Two Years Early

Why wait? By choosing Simon’s Rock, you are choosing to pursue and explore your passions now, which will lead you to earn your BA degree two years earlier than your peers. By earning your BA degree early, you will enter the workforce or begin graduate school earlier and begin doing what interests you sooner.