The Bard Microcollege in Holyoke, MA is a tuition-free college for women, inclusive of trans and non-binary students, whose educations have been interrupted by parenting, financial challenges, and other responsibilities.
Bard Microcollege Holyoke is a partnership between Bard and The Care Center, which houses the Microcollege classes and operations. The Care Center is an innovative community-based educational organization with expertise supporting the academic achievement of young mothers with limited financial resources.
Bard Microcollege Holyoke is a unique, community-based opportunity for women of the Pioneer Valley to enroll full-time at Bard College at no cost. The Bard Microcollege Holyoke, which was launched in 2016 as a pilot for future Bard Microcolleges, was developed in partnership between the Bard Prison Initiative and The Care Center.
The academic program — which culminates in an Associate in Arts degree from Bard College — is broad and ambitious. Coursework introduces students to a breadth of study in small classes and a seminar setting: from math and science, art and literature, to history and sociology.
Program features — including daycare and transportation, academic advising and paid summer internships — are designed to enable students to focus on and explore areas of academic and career interest. Student-led initiatives like peer mentoring and emergency babysitting offer extra support to incoming and parenting students.
Graduates of Bard Microcollege Holyoke make extraordinary contributions to their families and communities. Many continue their educations, earning full scholarships to complete bachelor’s degrees at colleges including Elms, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, Smith, Trinity, as well as on the main campus of Bard itself.