Cost & aid
What it costs
In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $34,220 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $9.9K more than the national median. The 100% who received grants paid $34,220 on average; the other 0% paid the full sticker price of $87,284.
- Full price
- $87,284 a year
- tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
- Need-based aid
- Little need-based aid above $110K
- aid thins out for families above that income
- Merit aid
- 38% · avg $48K
- of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Cost by family income
Per year for a typical family of four with one child in college. Up to $110K it is the average price federal aid recipients paid (2023–24).
Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys to read the price at an income.
- Published federal figures
- With an average merit award: $39K · proxy: 38% got one. A possibility, not a promise
View as a table
| Family income | Price per year |
|---|---|
| $0–30K | $18K a year |
| $30–48K | $18K a year |
| $48–75K | $22K a year |
| $75–110K | $26K a year |
| $150K | Published data end at $110K |
| $200K | Published data end at $110K |
| $250K | Published data end at $110K |
| $300K | Published data end at $110K |
| $350K | Published data end at $110K |
| $400K and above | Published data end at $110K |
At $150K: Published data end at $110K
Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for a number.
Your own number depends on the details below, so use the college's calculator for it.
What can change this
- Savings and investments above a typical amount raise the price. The curve assumes typical assets.
- Home equity: some colleges that use the CSS Profile count it. Check this college's own aid page or calculator.
$34,220
Tuition, housing, food, books & other expenses, after grants · 2023–24
100% got grants averaging $53,064; 0% got none.
Who pays what
Share of first-year students, 2023–24.
Housing and food use the college's on-campus rates, so the estimate runs high where many students live at home. “Other expenses” is the college's estimate of personal and transportation costs. Loans aren't subtracted because they're repaid.
$85,950 before aid
Tuition, fees, and on-campus food and housing · up 3% from 2023–24.
Show the full next-year estimate
- Tuition, fees, food & housing$85,950
- Books and supplies$1,200
- Transportation$550
- Other expenses$2,800
- Total for a student living on campus$90,500
$26K
≈ $276/month for 10 years
3.6 yrs
of median salary to cover 4 years of net price
About 1 in 2 undergrads borrows federally.
Everyone who borrowed and left, whether or not they graduated.
Three years into repayment
Where former undergraduates stand on their federal loans.
- Paid in full20–24%
- Paying it down30–34%
- Payments paused20–28%
- Not paying it down15–19%
- Behind or in default0–10%
- Forgiven or discharged0–5%
Some shares are published as a small range to protect privacy.
Who actually gets aid
Aid generosity
Very generousGrants cover 61% of the $87,284 full price on average across all first-years (very generous), more than at 95% of colleges. The sticker price overstates what most students here actually pay.
$53,064 in grants per first-year ÷ $87,284 full price.
Who gets grants and scholarships
Full-time first-year students (206), 2023–24
Where the aid comes from
Share of first-year students receiving each; averages are per recipient.
Aid by family income
The whole first-year class (206)
- Federal aid + grants127avg grant $56.3K
- Grants, no federal aid79avg grant $47.8K
- No grants0pay full price
Students with grants but no federal aid usually got the college's own need-based aid (without federal loans or Pell) or merit aid.
By family income: only students who received federal aid (127 of 206), because income is only reported for them.
From Bennington College's Common Data Set
First-years and all full-time undergraduates, 2022–23, a year before the federal figures above.
| First-years | All full-time | |
|---|---|---|
| Have financial need | 66%142 students | 61%435 students |
| Need met, on average | 89% | 87% |
| Need fully met | 23% | 18% |
| Average aid package | $53,550 | $54,102 |
| Average need-based grant | $50,553 | $50,113 |
| Average need-based loan | $3,019 | $3,866 |
| Merit aid without need | – | 3%average $23,394 |
36% of the college's own grant dollars were awarded without regard to need.
Each college decides what a family needs, so “100% of need met” can mean different prices at different colleges. Merit awards that went toward a student's need count as need-based here.
Applying for aid
For fall 2024 entrants.
Priority date: January 15 · Deadline: January 15 · Aid offers: about March 20 · Reply by: May 1
Dates for fall 2024 entrants; the next cycle's are usually similar.
In the college's words:
“Waived admissions application fee for all applicants. Vermont Resident No-Loan Initiative meets unmet demonstrated need without packaging loans. Tuition and/or fee waivers for employees/families of employees. Credit card payment plans. Installment payment plans.”Bennington College Common Data Set
International students
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;Bennington College Common Data Set 2023–24, 2024–25;Bennington College Common Data Set 2023–24, 2022–23;Bennington College Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2024 entrants;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;Common Data Set, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)