Bennington College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Bennington, Vermont. It enrolls 780 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
61/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes76
Value3
Affordability22
Selectivity86
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 44.5%, Bennington College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
44.5%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1291 – 1403
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
30 – 32
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Bennington College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
12.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Bennington College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $30,947 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$30,947
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
25%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
50%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$66,262
Room & Board (on-campus)
$19,108
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,130
Books & Supplies
$2,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,800
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,800
Total Cost of Attendance
$87,284
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$18,480
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,012
$48,001 – $75,000
$22,336
$75,001 – $110,000
$25,508
Over $110,000
$44,625
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$8,75025%percentile
$26,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$27,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,000
↓ $6,000
No Pell $17,896
↓ $8,104
Female students $18,500
↓ $7,500
Male students $19,500
↓ $6,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,000, less than completers ($26,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
79% of full-time students who enrolled at Bennington College graduate within six years, and 84% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
79%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
84%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Bennington College earn a median of $38,289 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,289
Earning > $25K
59%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$34,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$44,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,700, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
8.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Bennington College is home to 780 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
780
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
13%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 64.5%503
International 11.8%92
Hispanic 9.0%70
Other 6.3%49
Black 4.1%32
Asian 2.3%18
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Bennington College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantBennington, Vermont
Housing
Strongly residential799 beds for 780 students
Adult Learners
6%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Bennington College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
41 distinct programs across
21 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bennington College is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$90M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$100,457
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
62 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
No Rank
62
100%
$100,457
Pros & Cons of Bennington College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Bennington College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Best for:
Based on the data, Bennington College is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bennington College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Bennington College.
Is Bennington College hard to get into?
Bennington College is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 44.5%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Bennington College?
Bennington College has an acceptance rate of 44.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Bennington College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bennington College scored between 1291 and 1403 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Bennington College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bennington College scored between 30 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Bennington College cost?
The average net price after aid at Bennington College is $30,947 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Bennington College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,289 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $30,947 per year. That's roughly 1.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Bennington College known for?
Bennington College is best known for its programs in English Language and Literature/Letters, Literature, Visual & Performing Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Bennington College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Bennington College are $38,289, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Bennington College accredited?
Yes. Bennington College is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Bennington College?
Bennington College enrolls 780 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Bennington College?
Bennington College graduates 79% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Bennington College a public or private college?
Bennington College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Bennington College located?
Bennington College is located in Bennington, Vermont.
What programs does Bennington College offer?
Bennington College offers 41 distinct programs. The most popular include English Language and Literature/Letters, Literature, Visual & Performing Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Bennington College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bennington College is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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