Barnard Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

Barnard admitted 1,048 students out of 10,426 applicants for the Class of 2029, yielding a 10.05% acceptance rate, continuing a decade-long trend toward greater selectivity.

For the Class of 2030, Early Decision results came out in December 2025 but the exact numbers have not been disclosed. Regular Decision notifications are expected by late March 2026.

In this article, we’ll walk through Barnard’s latest available overall, early, regular, waitlist, and transfer acceptance rates and see how they’ve changed over time.

• Barnard Acceptance Rates
• Barnard Early Decision Acceptance Rate
• Barnard Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• Barnard Transfer Acceptance Rate
• Barnard Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Barnard Acceptance Rates

Barnard’s overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was 10.05%, an improvement from the 8.84% recorded for the Class of 2028. This uptick stems primarily from a drop in applications, down from 11,836 to 10,426, while the number of admitted students remained relatively stable at around 1,000.

However, Barnard’s overall acceptance rate has generally trended downward over the past decade, falling from over 15% to below 9% in recent years. Here’s the complete picture:

Note: All data has been compiled from Barnard’s Common Data Set.

Applications surged 56% from 7,716 for the Class of 2021 to a peak of 12,009 for the Class of 2026, driven in part by test-optional policies. The subsequent decline to 10,426 for the Class of 2029 may reflect shifting applicant behavior following the 2023 Supreme Court decision eliminating affirmative action.

Meanwhile, the number of admitted students has stayed relatively stable, ranging from 940 to 1,280 across all years. That combination of surging applications and a relatively fixed admit number drove the acceptance rate from 15.42% for the Class of 2021 down to a record low of 7.96% for the Class of 2027. The modest rebound to 10.05% for the Class of 2029 tracks directly with the decline in applications that year.

Barnard Early Decision Acceptance Rate

Barnard’s most recent Early Decision figures are from the Class of 2028, when Barnard received 1,694 early applications and admitted 434 students for an acceptance rate of 25.62%, down slightly from 27.05% for the Class of 2027.

Barnard has not yet released its ED statistics for the Class of 2030 or the Class of 2029.

Barnard Early Decision acceptance rate trends

Barnard’s ED acceptance rates have generally declined over the past decade, dropping from roughly 31% to around 26%. Here’s a breakdown:

Note: All data has been sourced from Barnard’s Common Data Sets.

Barnard ED applications have grown steadily, rising from 934 for the Class of 2021 to 1,694 for the Class of 2028. The number of admitted students has also generally increased over that period, though not at the same pace. The ED acceptance rate hit a low of 23.91% for the Class of 2023, climbed to a high of 33.39% for the Class of 2025, and has since settled back down to 25.62% for the Class of 2028.

Despite the declining rates, ED remains a strategic advantage. Barnard admits a far greater share of early applicants than those who apply in the regular round.

Barnard Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

The Class of 2028 gives us the latest complete RD data: 10,142 applications yielded 612 acceptances for a 6.03% rate, up from 4.82% for the Class of 2027. Barnard has not yet released standalone RD statistics for the Class of 2029.

Barnard Regular Decision acceptance rate trends

Barnard’s RD acceptance rates have fluctuated over the past decade, ranging between roughly 5% and 13%. Here’s how Barnard’s RD statistics have evolved:

Note: RD figures are estimates derived by subtracting ED data from overall totals in Barnard’s Common Data Set.

Barnard RD applications grew from 6,782 for the Class of 2021 to a peak of 10,509 for the Class of 2026 before settling at 10,142 for the Class of 2028. The number of admitted students, however, declined considerably over the same period, dropping from 963 for the Class of 2024 to just 489 for the Class of 2027, then it increased until hitting 1,047 for the Class of 2029.

That imbalance pushed the RD acceptance rate from a high of 13.29% (Class of 2021) to a low of 4.82% (Class of 2027), with a partial rebound to 6.03% for the Class of 2028.

Barnard Transfer Acceptance Rate

The most recent available Barnard transfer data comes from Fall 2024, with an acceptance rate of 20.11%. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2024 transfer data is from Barnard’s Common Data Set for 2024–2025, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2028 first-year admissions data.

Barnard’s transfer process is notably more accessible than its first-year admissions. The 20.11% transfer acceptance rate is considerably higher than the 6.03% RD rate for the Class of 2028.

Barnard Waitlist Acceptance Rate

The most recent waitlist data comes from Fall 2024, when Barnard had an acceptance rate of 9.44%. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2024 waitlist data is from Barnard’s Common Data Set for 2024–2025, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2028 first-year admissions data.

Barnard’s waitlist acceptance rate of 9.44% sits roughly in line with its overall freshman rates of 8.84% for the Class of 2028 and 10.05% for the Class of 2029. However, the number admitted from the waitlist will vary year to year depending on yield rates and enrollment needs, so waitlisted applicants should treat the offer as a possibility rather than a near-miss acceptance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Barnard’s current acceptance rate?

The most recent confirmed acceptance rate is 10.05% for the Class of 2029. Barnard received 10,426 applications and admitted 1,048 students.

2. Is it easier to get into Barnard through Early Decision or Regular Decision?

Significantly easier for ED. For the Class of 2028, the ED rate was 25.62% compared to 6.03% for RD, more than four times higher. However, ED applicants tend to be the most competitive in the pool.

3. How hard is it to transfer to Barnard?

More achievable than first-year admission. For Fall 2024, 252 out of 1,253 applicants were admitted, a 20.11% transfer rate, well above the 6.03% RD rate for the Class of 2028.

4. What are my chances of getting off Barnard’s waitlist?

For Fall 2024, Barnard admitted 148 students from a confirmed waitlist of 1,567, a 9.44% rate. Numbers vary year to year, so treat it as a possibility, not a guarantee.

5. Why has Barnard’s acceptance rate declined so sharply?

Applications have grown nearly 56% over the past decade, from 7,716 for the Class of 2021 to a peak of 12,009 for the Class of 2026 and decreased a bit to 10,426 for the Class of 2029. Admit numbers have remained relatively stable, causing the acceptance rate to fluctuate through the years.

Takeaways

• Barnard’s acceptance rate has dropped significantly, from 15.42% for the Class of 2021 to a record low of 7.96% for the Class of 2027, with a modest rebound to 10.05% for the Class of 2029.
• ED offers a substantial statistical advantage. For the Class of 2028, the ED rate was 25.62% compared to 6.03% for RD, but ED applicants tend to be the most competitive in the pool.
• RD has become considerably more competitive over the past decade, with the acceptance rate falling from 13.29% for the Class of 2021 to a low of 4.82% for the Class of 2027.
• Transfer and waitlist admissions offer alternative pathways, though neither is assured. The Fall 2024 transfer rate was 20.11%, while the waitlist acceptance rate among confirmed students was 9.44%, both subject to change year to year.
• As Barnard grows more selective, having an experienced admissions advisor in your corner can make a real difference. The right guidance helps you identify your strengths, sharpen your application, and approach the process with confidence.