Admit rate has ranged 47%–61% 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.
Bentley University is a business powerhouse disguised as a liberal arts college, where spreadsheets and Shakespeare share equal billing. With a laser focus on ROI—both in its curriculum and its graduates' paychecks—this Waltham, MA campus churns out financially fluent professionals who dominate accounting firms and tech startups alike. Greek life and Division II athletics add a surprisingly traditional college vibe to what might otherwise feel like a corporate training ground.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Grade point average
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
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
4,474
In-state tuition
$61,000
Out-of-state tuition
$61,000
Location
Waltham, MA
Top Majors
Accounting/Finance (5%), Business Stats (4%), CS (4%)
ROI Ranking
#8 nationally (CNBC)
Acceptance Rate
45%
On-Campus Housing
73% of students
Median Early Salary
$108,577
Greek Life Participation
12 fraternities/sororities
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$120,959
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.2×
Median debt at graduation
$25,023
Graduation rate
87%
First-year retention
93%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
91%
Pell (lower-income) share
29%
First-generation share
16%
Endowment / student
Financial health
3.0 / 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.
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$79,653
Computer and Information Sciences, General$74,200
Finance and Financial Management Services$64,253
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other$64,174
Mathematics$63,997
Accounting and Related Services
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
8
Per 1,000 students
1.79
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
90
Summer high
81°F
Winter low
24°F
Annual rain
50"
Annual snow
35"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
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
223
Scholarly works
7,216
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
2.9%
Bottom → top quintile
61%
From bottom quintile
5%
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 Bentley University?
Bentley University's acceptance rate is approximately 45% (Waltham, MA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Bentley University?
Admitted students at Bentley University typically score 1280–1430 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Bentley University cost?
At Bentley University, the average net price (after aid) is about $37,930 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Bentley University?
Bentley University enrolls approximately 4,474 undergraduate students.
Where is Bentley University located?
Bentley University is located in Waltham, MA.
Admissions
Bentley's admissions process is selective but not cutthroat, with a 45% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. that makes it accessible to strong students without Ivy League-level stress. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1290–1403 on the SAT or 27–32 on the ACT, though the university accepts self-reported scores during application. Notably, deferred admission isn't an option—applicants must commit to their initial application timeline. About 45% of applicants receive admission, with the university emphasizing a Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone. beyond test scores.
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.
$62,388
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$60,146
Business/Managerial Economics$58,221
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.
Academics
Bentley's academic identity orbits around its business core—originally founded as an accounting school—but now extends into tech-infused liberal arts. The curriculum forces intersections between disciplines: finance majors take arts seminars, while poets learn data visualization. Top programs include:
Accounting and Finance (5% of majors)
Business Statistics (4%)
Computer Science (4%)
Managerial Economics (3%)
Customization is key—many students blend majors like 'Creative Industries' with business specializations. As one Reddit user notes, 'It's definitely a career-oriented school with a focus on getting you a good-paying job out of college.'
Despite its corporate reputation, Bentley's 4,200 undergrads enjoy a classic New England college experience. Seventy-three percent live on campus, with Greek life anchoring social scenes—12 fraternities and sororities dominate philanthropy events and parties. Over 100 student clubs range from investment groups to improv troupes, while Division II athletics (especially hockey) draw crowds. The compact campus fosters tight-knit communities, though some lament the lack of big-university energy. As one review notes: 'Vibrant and lively, despite being smaller than state schools.'
Bentley's ROI claims aren't marketing fluff—graduates net $1M+ in lifetime earnings over peers with only high school diplomas. The median early-career salary hits $108,577 (nearly double the national average), with many eclipsing $120K in business roles. CNBC ranked Bentley #8 nationally for return on investment, calculating a $3.83M 40-year payoff. The Class of 2023 reported strong placement at firms like PwC, Deloitte, and Wayfair, aided by Boston's corporate networks and Bentley's career-focused culture.
At $44,349 Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. (after average aid), Bentley isn't cheap—but 88% of students receive grants or scholarships. Merit awards range from $10K to full tuition, while Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements. averages $33,673 per recipient. The university's 'MyIntuition' calculator helps families estimate costs, though the sticker price remains steep: typical aid packages of $47,713 still leave many with significant loans. For business-minded students, the math often works—the salary premium justifies the debt for most.
Bentley occupies a rare niche: a business school with soul. Unlike purely transactional programs, it insists on humanities requirements that produce articulate analysts and culturally literate CEOs. The campus vibe—part Fortune 500 training hub, part New England college—appeals to students who want both frat parties and Bloomberg Terminal proficiency. With graduate salaries rivaling Ivy League benchmarks and a curriculum that treats ethics as seriously as Excel, Bentley proves commerce and character aren't mutually exclusive.
Bentley University logo · sourceUndergraduate Admission - Visit Bentley | Bentley University · sourceBentley University - Waltham, MA | Appily · sourceBentley University Mission Statement and Core Values | Bentley University · source
