Bentley University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Bentley University is a private research university in Waltham, Massachusetts, serving roughly 4,474 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 45.05% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $120,959 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $61,000
- 2024 Average Net Price: $37,930 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 45.05% Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 4,474 99.1% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 86.79%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
- First-Generation Students: 15.6%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 2.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 2.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 66.7%
- Average SAT Score: 1352
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,653
- Applicants (IPEDS): 10,482
- Room & Board: $20,140 annual estimate
Bentley University: what the data shows
Common questions about Bentley University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Bentley University?
Bentley University is located in Waltham, MA (ZIP 02452-4705).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is Bentley University public or private?
Bentley University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Bentley University cost?
Published tuition: $61,000.
Average net price after aid: $37,930.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $21,196 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $18,587 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $26,164 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $33,653 |
| $110,001+ | $49,190 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $244,000.
How hard is it to get into Bentley University?
Admission rate: 45.05%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1352 and midpoint ACT 30.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Bentley University?
Total enrollment: 4,474 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 4,653 students.
Graduate enrollment: 807 students.
About 99% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Bentley University?
150%-time completion rate: 86.79%.
First-year retention: 92.7%.
What do graduates of Bentley University earn?
Median earnings: $86,679 six years after entry; $120,959 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $25,023.
16.07% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Bentley University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Finance, General (369 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (331 completions)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General (123 completions)
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other (104 completions)
- Business Statistics (98 completions)
- Accounting (72 completions)
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other (49 completions)
- Accounting and Finance (48 completions)
- Human Computer Interaction (42 completions)
- Financial Mathematics (38 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Bentley University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 45.05%; completion rate 86.79%; median earnings $120,959 at 10 years; net price $37,930. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$61,000
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Bentley University was $61,000.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$37,930
2024 Value
In 2024 Bentley University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $37,930.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$151,720 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$37,930 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$244,000 4-Year Tuition
$20,140 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,200 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$82,340 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$329,360 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Bentley University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
16.07% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
43.17% 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 Bentley University 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 Bentley University 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 | $41,110 | $41,110 | $29,886 |
| 2014 | $42,511 | $42,511 | $31,616 |
| 2015 | $44,085 | $44,085 | $32,713 |
| 2016 | $45,760 | $45,760 | $34,207 |
| 2017 | $48,000 | $48,000 | $35,671 |
| 2018 | $49,880 | $49,880 | $36,919 |
| 2019 | $51,830 | $51,830 | $38,986 |
| 2020 | $53,790 | $53,790 | $41,334 |
| 2021 | $54,910 | $54,910 | $39,437 |
| 2022 | $56,500 | $56,500 | $39,699 |
| 2023 | $58,150 | $58,150 | $38,787 |
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
45.05% Acceptance Rate
10,482 Total Applicants
5,077 Students Admitted
1,120 First-Time Students Enrolled
22.06% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1352
ACT Average: 30
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
Bentley University reported total enrollment of about 4,474 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 61% male and 39% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (52.5%), Non-Resident Alien (14.6%), and Hispanic or Latino (14.3%). About 16.07% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 15.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
99.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Bentley University in 2024 is 4,474 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 4,653 students. Graduate enrollment is about 807 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
92.7%
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 52.5%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
80.57% 100% Completion Time
86.79% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 80.57% of students graduating from Bentley University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Finance, General: 72% male / 28% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 48% male / 52% female
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 36% male / 64% 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 Bentley University.
Return on Investment
$25,023 Median Student Debt
$120,959 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
20.69% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
697.25% Return on Investment
2.1 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Bentley University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 30 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Finance, General: 369 completions
2. Business Administration and Management, General: 331 completions
3. Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 123 completions
4. Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other: 104 completions
5. Business Statistics: 98 completions
6. Accounting: 72 completions
7. Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other: 49 completions
8. Accounting and Finance: 48 completions
9. Human Computer Interaction: 42 completions
Most popular programs at Bentley University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Bentley University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Bentley University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 66.7%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $15,847
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $16,265
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Bentley University is a private non-profit institution located in Waltham, MA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Finance, General, Business Administration and Management, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, General. Enrollment is approximately 4,474 students. Student body composition includes White (52.5%), Non-Resident Alien (14.6%), Hispanic or Latino (14.3%). It is selective, with an admission rate of 45.05%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1352. The 150%-time completion rate is 86.79%. Approximately 16.07% of students receive Pell Grants. About 15.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Location
Waltham, MA 02452-4705
Region: New England
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 86.79% graduation rate, Bentley University demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.
Strong Career Outcomes: Bentley University graduates report median earnings of $120,959 ten years after entry, placing them among the higher-earning college graduates nationally. This strong earnings potential reflects both the quality of education and the career opportunities available to graduates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bentley University located?
Bentley University is located in Waltham, MA.
What is Bentley University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Bentley University is 45.1% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 10,482 applicants and 5,077 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Bentley University cost?
Reported tuition is $61,000 and average net price is $37,930 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $20,140 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Bentley University?
Bentley University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 4,653 students, White (52.5%), Non-Resident Alien (14.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Bentley University?
About 15.6% of students at Bentley University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Bentley University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Bentley University reports midpoint SAT about 1352 and midpoint ACT about 30.
What do graduates of Bentley University earn?
Median earnings are $86,679 six years after entry and $120,959 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Bentley University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 86.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Bentley University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,023.
Is Bentley University public or private?
Bentley University is a private nonprofit institution located in Waltham, MA.
Is Bentley University an HBCU?
No. Bentley University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Bentley University a tribal college?
No. Bentley University 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
- Massachusetts college costs
- Massachusetts colleges by ROI
- New England regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Massachusetts
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.