Bennington College Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Bennington College is a private research university in Bennington, Vermont, enrolling about 780 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 44.53% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $38,289 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $66,262
- 2024 Average Net Price: $30,947 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 44.53% Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 780 97.6% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 71.21%
- Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
- First-Generation Students: 12.6%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 5.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 7.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 41.2%
- Average SAT Score: 1364
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 857
- Applicants (IPEDS): 2,825
- Room & Board: $19,108 annual estimate
Bennington College: what the data shows
Common questions about Bennington College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Bennington College?
Bennington College is located in Bennington, VT (ZIP 05201-6003).
NCES locale classification: Town distant.
Is Bennington College public or private?
Bennington College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Bennington College cost?
Published tuition: $66,262.
Average net price after aid: $30,947.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $18,480 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $18,012 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $22,336 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $25,508 |
| $110,001+ | $44,625 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $265,048.
How hard is it to get into Bennington College?
Admission rate: 44.53%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1364.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Bennington College?
Total enrollment: 780 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 857 students.
Graduate enrollment: 130 students.
About 98% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Bennington College?
150%-time completion rate: 71.21%.
First-year retention: 82.0%.
What do graduates of Bennington College earn?
Median earnings: $24,711 six years after entry; $38,289 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $26,000.
25.27% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Bennington College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- English Language and Literature/Letters, Other (40 completions)
- Visual and Performing Arts, General (27 completions)
- General Literature (18 completions)
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General (17 completions)
- Music, General (13 completions)
- Creative Writing (10 completions)
- Community Organization and Advocacy (8 completions)
- Political Science and Government, General (8 completions)
- Dance, General (8 completions)
- Psychology, General (6 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Bennington College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 44.53%; completion rate 71.21%; median earnings $38,289 at 10 years; net price $30,947. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$66,262
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Bennington College was $66,262.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$30,947
2024 Value
In 2024 Bennington College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $30,947.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$123,788 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$30,947 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$265,048 4-Year Tuition
$19,108 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$2,000 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$87,370 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$349,480 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Bennington College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
25.27% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
50.40% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Bennington College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Bennington College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $45,080 | $45,080 | $29,960 |
| 2014 | $46,667 | $46,667 | $27,901 |
| 2015 | $48,220 | $48,220 | $31,774 |
| 2016 | $50,100 | $50,100 | $32,451 |
| 2017 | $51,920 | $51,920 | $29,815 |
| 2018 | $53,860 | $53,860 | $29,386 |
| 2019 | $55,950 | $55,950 | $29,325 |
| 2020 | $58,124 | $58,124 | $30,741 |
| 2021 | $59,638 | $59,638 | $28,502 |
| 2022 | $61,448 | $61,448 | $29,787 |
| 2023 | $64,644 | $64,644 | $31,918 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
44.53% Acceptance Rate
2,825 Total Applicants
1,357 Students Admitted
216 First-Time Students Enrolled
15.92% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1364
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.5 - 3.7
Estimated Median GPA: 3.60
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Bennington College reported total enrollment of about 780 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 27% male and 73% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (64.5%), Non-Resident Alien (11.8%), and Hispanic or Latino (9.0%). About 25.27% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 12.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Bennington College in 2024 is 780 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 857 students. Graduate enrollment is about 130 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
82.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 64.5%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
60.61% 100% Completion Time
71.21% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 60.61% of students graduating from Bennington College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- English Language and Literature/Letters, Other: 20% male / 80% female
- Visual and Performing Arts, General: 33% male / 67% female
- General Literature: 33% male / 67% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Bennington College.
Return on Investment
$26,000 Median Student Debt
$38,289 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
67.90% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
209.31% Return on Investment
6.8 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Bennington College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 54 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. English Language and Literature/Letters, Other: 40 completions
2. Visual and Performing Arts, General: 27 completions
3. General Literature: 18 completions
4. Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General: 17 completions
5. Music, General: 13 completions
6. Creative Writing: 10 completions
7. Community Organization and Advocacy: 8 completions
8. Political Science and Government, General: 8 completions
9. Dance, General: 8 completions
Most popular programs at Bennington College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Bennington College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Bennington College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 41.2%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $10,055
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $23,573
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Bennington College is a private non-profit institution located in Bennington, VT, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were English Language and Literature/Letters, Other, Visual and Performing Arts, General, General Literature. Enrollment is approximately 780 students. Student body composition includes White (64.5%), Non-Resident Alien (11.8%), Hispanic or Latino (9.0%). It is selective, with an admission rate of 44.53%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1364. The 150%-time completion rate is 71.21%. Approximately 25.27% of students receive Pell Grants. About 12.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
Location
Bennington, VT 05201-6003
Region: New England
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 54 distinct degree programs, Bennington College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bennington College located?
Bennington College is located in Bennington, VT.
What is Bennington College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Bennington College is 44.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 2,825 applicants and 1,357 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Bennington College cost?
Reported tuition is $66,262 and average net price is $30,947 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $19,108 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Bennington College?
Bennington College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 857 students, White (64.5%), Non-Resident Alien (11.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Bennington College?
About 12.6% of students at Bennington College are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Bennington College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Bennington College reports midpoint SAT about 1364.
What do graduates of Bennington College earn?
Median earnings are $24,711 six years after entry and $38,289 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Bennington College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 71.2% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Bennington College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $26,000.
Is Bennington College public or private?
Bennington College is a private nonprofit institution located in Bennington, VT.
Is Bennington College an HBCU?
No. Bennington College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Bennington College a tribal college?
No. Bennington College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Vermont college costs
- Vermont colleges by ROI
- New England regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Vermont
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.