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Bentley University

Private Nonprofit Graduate Strong 77/100

Bentley University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Waltham, Massachusetts

About Bentley University

Bentley University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Waltham, Massachusetts. It enrolls 4,474 students (a mid-sized 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.

Official website: bentley.edu

Acceptance: 45.1%
Graduation: 90.4%
Net Price: $37,930
Median Earnings (10yr): $120,959
Enrollment: 4,474
Student : Faculty: 12:1

Accreditor New England Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

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.

Strong

77/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 93

Value 66

Affordability 8

Selectivity 86

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 45.1%, Bentley University is a selective institution.

Acceptance Rate

45.1%

Selective

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1280 – 1430

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

28 – 31

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized 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 Bentley University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↑ 1.7 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Bentley University 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 $37,930 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$37,930

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

16%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

43%

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: $61,000
Room & Board (on-campus): $20,140
Room & Board (off-campus): $20,140
Books & Supplies: $1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus): $1,500
Other Expenses (off-campus): $1,500
Total Cost of Attendance: $79,548

Application fee: $75 (one-time, due at submission)

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

$21,196
$30,001 – $48,000

$18,587
$48,001 – $75,000

$26,164
$75,001 – $110,000

$33,653
Over $110,000

$49,190

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.

$5,500

10% percentile

$14,548

25% percentile

$25,023

Median percentile

$27,000

75% percentile

$32,500

90% 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 $24,695 ↓ $328

No Pell $23,250 ↓ $1,773

Dependent students $23,666 ↓ $1,357

Independent students $28,250 ↑ $3,227

Female students $23,666 ↓ $1,357

Male students $24,188 ↓ $835

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,250, less than completers ($25,023), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

90% of full-time students who enrolled at Bentley University graduate within six years, and 93% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

90%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

93%

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 Bentley University earn a median of $120,959 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$120,959

Earning > $25K

97%

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

$83,800

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$103,800

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$83,200

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$93,900

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$98,600

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $20,000, about 19% 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 ↑ 5.5 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 98% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Bentley University is home to 4,474 students, a mid-sized community.

Total Enrolled

4,474

Part-Time

First-Generation

16%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 52.5% 2,349

International 14.6% 654

Hispanic 14.3% 638

Asian 10.0% 447

Black 4.5% 200

Other 3.1% 140

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Bentley University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Small City Waltham, Massachusetts

Housing

Strongly residential 3,350 beds for 4,474 students

Adult Learners

0% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Bentley University offers a varied set of programs: 35 distinct programs across 11 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.

20 Programs

Business

Finance $83K ($61K–$112K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

3 Programs

Interdisciplinary Studies

3 Programs

Computer Science

Information Systems $92K ($64K–$128K)
IT Administration $85K ($59K–$118K)
Information Systems $92K ($64K–$128K)

2 Programs

Mathematics

Applied Mathematics $92K ($63K–$127K)
Mathematics $70K ($49K–$97K)

1 Program

Health

Public Health $59K ($42K–$79K)

1 Program

Public Administration

Public Policy $74K ($53K–$104K)

1 Program

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Bentley University is 12:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

12:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$550M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$141,162

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

285 instructional faculty across 4 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
Full Professors	73	26%	$196,467
Associate Professors	50	18%	$141,452
Assistant Professors	73	26%	$140,508
Lecturers	89	31%	$96,175

Pros & Cons of Bentley University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Bentley University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings

CONS

High net price compared to most US colleges
Selective admissions, solid academic profile expected
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families

Best for: Based on the data, Bentley University is a fit for students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bentley University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Bentley University.

Is Bentley University hard to get into?

Bentley University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 45.1%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.

What is the acceptance rate at Bentley University?

Bentley University has an acceptance rate of 45.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Bentley University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Bentley University scored between 1280 and 1430 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 Bentley University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Bentley University scored between 28 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Bentley University cost?

The average net price after aid at Bentley University is $37,930 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Bentley University worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $120,959 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $37,930 per year. That's roughly 3.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Bentley University known for?

Bentley University is best known for its programs in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Bentley University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Bentley University are $120,959, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Bentley University accredited?

Yes. Bentley University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend Bentley University?

Bentley University enrolls 4,474 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Bentley University?

Bentley University graduates 90% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Bentley University a public or private college?

Bentley University is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Bentley University located?

Bentley University is located in Waltham, Massachusetts.

What programs does Bentley University offer?

Bentley University offers 35 distinct programs. The most popular include Finance, Business Administration, Accounting.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Bentley University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Bentley University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.