Admit rate has ranged 34%–79% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Bennett College is one of only two historically Black colleges for women in the United States, a distinction that defines its mission and campus culture. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, it offers an intimate, 7:1 student-faculty ratio and a liberal arts curriculum across three academic divisions. The institution's identity is deeply rooted in fostering leadership and excellence among Black women, though its graduation rate and post-graduate earnings reflect significant challenges. This is a college with a powerful legacy and a distinct, supportive community, but one that demands a clear-eyed assessment of its outcomes and financial commitment.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
178
In-state tuition
$19,140
Out-of-state tuition
$19,140
Graduation Rate
25%
Student-Faculty Ratio
7:1
Median Earnings (10yr)
$36,654
Freshman Retention Rate
89%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$36,654
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.3×
Median debt at graduation
$28,130
Graduation rate
25%
First-year retention
86%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
26%
Pell (lower-income) share
73%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
32%
Financial health
1.9 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Social Work$36,488
Business Administration, Management and Operations$31,133
Communication and Media Studies$30,771
Biology, General$25,967
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$21,964
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
104
Summer high
87°F
Winter low
36°F
Annual rain
45.8"
Annual snow
4.3"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
42
Scholarly works
271
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
3.9%
Bottom → top quintile
21%
From bottom quintile
18%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Bennett College?
Bennett College's acceptance rate is approximately 51% (Greensboro, NC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Bennett College?
Admitted students at Bennett College typically score 820–1060 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Bennett College cost?
At Bennett College, the average net price (after aid) is about $28,299 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Bennett College?
Bennett College enrolls approximately 178 undergraduate students.
Where is Bennett College located?
Bennett College is located in Greensboro, NC.
Admissions
Bennett College's admissions process is selective, with an of 51%. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students falls between 820 and 1060. Standardized test scores (SAT/ACT) are recommended but not required for applicants. The admissions office can be reached at (336) 370-8624 or [email protected]. The college does not have an open admission policy, and prospective students are not required to apply for admission in order to participate in certain programs, as indicated by some admission plan definitions. The provided sources do not specify whether Bennett College has an Early Decision or Early Action plan, nor do they provide data on rate, ED share of the class, or whether demonstrated interest is considered in admissions decisions.
Academic life at Bennett is defined by its small scale and structured curriculum. The college boasts a remarkably low 7:1 student-faculty ratio, promising highly personalized instruction. Its academic offerings are organized into three divisions: Arts, Humanities, and Education (AHE); Science and Technology (ST); and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Across these divisions, Bennett offers between 13 and 24 majors, with areas of study spanning Education, the Social Sciences, the Humanities, and Natural and Behavioral Sciences and Mathematics. The average freshman retention rate, a common indicator of student satisfaction, is reported as 89%. The curriculum is described as aiming to empower students, supported by research-driven faculty.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Bennett provides a unique and focused environment as a small, private, historically Black liberal arts college for women. The campus culture is built around educating women "conducive to excellence in leadership," with behavioral expectations emphasizing respectful, honest, and ethical conduct as members of the community. While specific details about clubs and traditions are limited in the provided sources, the overall student experience is described in terms of vibrant collaboration, dedication, and shared joy. Descriptions from similar institutional settings suggest an active and engaging student life with clubs, sports, cultural festivals, and tech competitions, though these are not directly cited for Bennett College itself. The experience is fundamentally shaped by its identity as a close-knit HBCU sisterhood.
Post-graduate outcomes present a complex picture. The graduation rate is 25%. This rate is measured at 150% of the expected time for completion (6 years from first enrollment). Historical data shows fluctuation, with the 6-year graduation rate for the 2023 cohort reported as 21%. There is a notable disparity in outcomes based on financial background: the 6-year graduation rate for students who received a Pell Grant is 17%, compared to 42% for those who did not. Financially, median earnings ten years after entry are $36,654, which is reported to be about 26% less than the average pay for college graduates overall. An external mobility report card ranks Bennett in the 95th percentile for mobility, though the specific metric for this ranking is not defined in the snippet.
The net financial commitment for students is significant. The average after aid is $28,299 per year. This net price is defined as the estimated (including tuition, required fees, books, etc.) minus aid and scholarship funds. The college provides a Net Price Calculator on its website to help families estimate this cost. Financial aid packages include scholarships and grants; for example, certain Bennett College awards range from $3,900 to an unspecified maximum, with other awards up to $3,000 annually. Students must demonstrate need and complete the FAFSA to be eligible. The provided sources do not indicate that Bennett College has a policy of meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need or a no-loan policy for any income bracket.
Bennett College's singularity is undeniable: it is one of only two HBCUs in the nation dedicated exclusively to the education of women. This creates a powerful, focused mission of cultivating leadership and academic excellence within a supportive sisterhood. The 7:1 student-faculty ratio is exceptionally low, even among liberal arts colleges, guaranteeing a level of personal attention rare in higher education. Its identity is its greatest asset—a tight-knit community with a historic purpose. However, this stands in stark contrast to its sobering outcomes data, including low graduation rates and below-average postgraduate earnings. Bennett is not a choice for the faint of heart or those seeking a conventional college path; it is for a student deeply committed to its unique mission and prepared to navigate its challenges within a profoundly distinctive environment.
Bennett College seal · sourceCampus Map – Bennett College · sourceBennett College | Liberal Arts College in North Carolina · sourceBennett College – HBCU Money Guide · source
