Barnard admits Class of 2030
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First-generation college students make up 25 percent of admittees, a four percent increase from the Class of 2029.
Photo by Claire Cenovic/The Barnard Bulletin
April 13, 2026
On March 21, Barnard College released admissions decisions for the Class of 2030. Although Barnard Admissions did not release the acceptance rates for the early decision or regular decision admission cycles, it announced that the College received a total of 10,763 applications for the incoming first-year class.
The Class of 2030 comes from 49 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and more than 50 countries outside of the U.S. Additionally, first-generation college students make up 25 percent of the Class of 2030 admittees, an increase from 21 percent in the Class of 2029. Ninety-four percent of the admitted first-years are in the top 10 percent of their class. The Class of 2030 also includes 13 full-match QuestBridge Scholars and 43 QuestBridge-affiliated scholars. The Class of 2029 included 15 full-match QuestBridge Scholars.
Admitted students spoke to The Bulletin about why they applied to Barnard, emphasizing the College’s balance of academic opportunities and community.
“The main thing I want in college is to be in the city. Barnard offers a great balance between city life and the small campus feel, so things won’t be too overwhelming!” said Coco Guven (BC ’30).
Guven also highlighted excitement about “intimate class sizes” and opportunities to take courses in collaboration with Columbia, along with campus traditions such as “midnight breakfast during finals week.”
Many incoming first-years are drawn to academically rigorous majors.
Arisema Giday (BC ’30) stated, “I plan on majoring in political science [with] a minor in economics. I was a three-time state medalist in a very information- and data-heavy debate style, so I knew that deep down I wanted to major in something that replicates that rigor. I love working with numbers and talking about politics, so these areas of study fit what I am aiming for.”
Guven explained that she was looking forward to Barnard’s flexibility in choosing a major. “I am excited to explore options such as economics, English, and psychology,” she said.
Applicants to the Class of 2030 submitted one 250-word essay, which asked students to imagine a conversation with a woman whose views differed from their own and reflect on how that exchange would challenge their thinking and shape their future learning.
“I wrote about Hannah Arendt and how she believed that in times of need, we do not have time to stop and think; we must act. I explored and wrote about how her perspective would challenge me to not always wait for a full answer before acting,” Giday told The Bulletin. “For instance, in class discussions I often wait for a fully formed answer or statement before engaging, but because of this, I often won’t get a chance to speak or even truly engage.”
In reflecting on the application process, Majo Soria (BC ’30) told The Bulletin, “The application process was exhausting but also really eye-opening. I applied [early decision] and wrote my essay about my grandmother, which felt very personal.
Soria also touched on her experience applying for early decision. “I got deferred, which was hard at first, but it gave me the chance to reflect on why Barnard was right for me. The whole experience taught me how important it is to be honest about who I am and what I care about, and that being persistent and genuine can make a huge difference.”
As Barnard welcomes the Class of 2030, Jennifer Fondiller (BC ’88), Vice President for Enrollment and External Affairs, stated, “What struck our team this year was the extraordinary depth these students brought to every part of their applications. They are not just accomplished — they are reflective, curious, and purposeful.”