Barnard College, a distinguished member of the Seven Sisters (a consortium of elite historically women’s colleges in the Northeastern region of the United States), is a beacon of academic excellence. Nestled in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, it shares an academic synergy with its neighbor, Columbia University. Its students graduate with degrees from both institutions (the diplomas list “Barnard College of Columbia University”). Barnard students may cross-register for classes at the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Jewish Theological Seminary. Throughout its history, it has graduated alums such as comedian Joan Rivers, actress and director Greta Gerwig, and television personality Martha Stewart.

With a rich history as a pioneering institution in American higher education, Barnard has recently seen a significant decrease in its acceptance rates, a trend that mirrors that of its Ivy League counterpart. 

Barnard College Admission Statistics Over 11+ Years

We’ve compiled the last 10 years of Barnard admissions data using publicly available data from The Common Data Set.

Admissions Cycle	Number of Applications	Number Admitted	Acceptance Rate (%)
2013-2014	5606	1151	20.53%
2014-2015	5676	1349	23.77%
2015-2016	6655	1306	19.62%
2016-2017	7071	1184	16.74%
2017-2018	7716	1190	15.42%
2018-2019	7890	1099	13.93%
2019-2020	9314	1097	11.78%
2020-2021	9411	1280	13.60%
2021-2022	10,395	1192	11.47%
2022-2023	12009	1056	8.79%
2023-2024	11803	940	7.96%

Analysis of Barnard’s Admission Statistics Over 11+ Years

Ten years ago, Barnard recorded an acceptance rate of 20.53%, a number expected of a highly selective liberal arts institution of the time. However, the steep decline of the acceptance rate over the next ten years, recently punctuated with a record-low 7.96% for the 2023-24 admissions cycle, must be put into the context of elite college admissions more broadly. Acceptance rates across the top schools in the nation have been on a steady decline since the 2000s, which has only grown more steep in recent years. Barnard is no exception. 

We at Ivy Coach attribute this decline to many factors:

• The increasing ease with which students around the world can digitally apply to a variety of schools.
• The growing importance of an elite education for succeeding within a highly competitive job market.
• The ever-mounting name recognition of places like Barnard within global popular culture.

Eventually, as these factors begin to reach an inflection point, Ivy Coach’s crystal ball predicts that Barnard’s acceptance rate will plateau as the maximum number of students physically possible apply each admissions cycle. After all, you can only get so close to the tangent line of 0% before facing mathematical absurdity.

Let’s take a look at the Barnard acceptance rate over the last ten years represented visually: 

Oy vey! That’s a steep downward trend if we have ever seen one!

Is Barnard Considered an Ivy League School?

Given Barnard’s dwindling acceptance rate, one might wonder if Barnard qualifies as an Ivy League school. After all, students who graduate from Barnard graduate with a degree from Barnard College of Columbia University. Since Columbia University is one of the eight member institutions of the Ivy League, it would seem logical to conclude that Barnard is, by association, a member of the Ivy League.

But that would not be correct. Barnard is not a member of the Ivy League. While it is a private women’s liberal arts college affiliated with Columbia, it operates independently and is not a member of the Ancient Eight.

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into Barnard

Given these daunting statistics, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. But don’t lose heart! Barnard’s campus is a vibrant community of intellectually curious and innovative young women, offering the benefits of an Ivy League education and the pride of participating in a deeply feminist American tradition. You deserve a place in this esteemed institution, and Ivy Coach is here to help. Our team of former elite college admissions officers will work with you to create a compelling, singular hook that Barnard’s admissions officers will find irresistible. As with any liberal arts college, especially one with a history of committing to the advancement of womankind, Barnard values applicants who understand its unique history and the particulars of its culture.

If your daughter can’t imagine herself anywhere else and wants to give her application an edge, look no further! We know the unique mix of qualities and characteristics Barnard is looking for in applicants, and it would be our pleasure to help your child craft an application worthy of a soon-to-be New Yorker. If you’re interested in optimizing your daughter’s odds of admission to Barnard College, fill out our complimentary consultation form and we’ll be in touch.