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Bentley University

Waltham, MA
Known forHigh earnersHigh graduation ratePell students graduate at the same rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 2 applicants admitted

Bentley admits about 1 in 2 applicants (45%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 86% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

45%

45%

acceptance rateSelective

Applied

11,012

Admitted

4,961

Yield

21%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1280–1430

10001600
ACT middle 50%

28–31

1836
Applications +47% since fall 2014 · admit rate 46% → 45%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 4,474 undergrads, where 16% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

4.5K

undergrads · larger than 76% of colleges

Diversity index

0.67

Pell Grant

16%

below the median

First generation

16%

below the median

Small cityNCAA D-II · Northeast 10 ConferenceStudy abroad
More diverse · index 0.60 → 0.67 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Finance, General (30% of graduates). 12 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 59% of colleges. 67% of faculty are full-time. Spends $16,265 a year on instruction per student.

12 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 59% of colleges

Most popular major

Finance, General

30% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Non-Professional Legal Studies

$148.1K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

67%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$16.3K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $50,466 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $26.2K more than the national median. The 88% who received grants paid $45,802 on average; the other 12% paid the full sticker price of $79,960.

37%

$50.5K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $26.2K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$79,960 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
38% · avg $21K
of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 37% of full price

Federal loans

43%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · −4% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $120,959 ten years after enrolling, more than at 99% of colleges; 89% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.7 years of that salary.

89%

89%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$121K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$25K

≈ $265/month for 10 years

Retention

93%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 88% → 87% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 7% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 4%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 47% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 46% to 45%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    −4% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +47%

  • Selectivity

    Steady

    admit rate 46% → 45%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.60 → 0.67

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

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51% admit · SAT 1345 · 3.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Stevens Institute of Technology

51% admit · SAT 1425 · 4.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Southeastern University

53% admit · 4.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso private
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Wesleyan University

16% admit · SAT 1478 · 3.1K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso NortheastAlso private
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    Bentley University (2026)

    Bentley University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 164739 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything