Bennington College
A good fit for students who want small classes and close faculty access. earnings-to-debt ratio is tight. generous financial aid cuts net price well below sticker.
About This School
Bennington College is a private nonprofit institution located in Bennington, Vermont with approximately 780 undergraduate students enrolled. The school is moderately selective, accepting approximately 45% of applicants. The average net price after financial aid is $30,947 per year. The graduation rate is 71%, and the typical graduate earns $38,400 within 10 years of enrollment.
Bennington College is a private liberal arts college in Bennington, Vermont, United States. Founded as a women’s college in 1932, it became co-educational in 1969. It is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: the 67% graduation rate is below average, and median earnings of $38,400 a decade out are modest for a school costing nearly $32,000 per year even after aid. That said, the low median debt at graduation ($19,250) and a highly individualized, self-directed curriculum make this a genuinely compelling option for students who are deeply self-motivated and pursuing creative or arts-adjacent paths where traditional salary metrics matter less. Worth considering if you thrive without structure — but think carefully if you need clear career outcomes or a strong job-placement track record.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 8% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 29 | $39,958 | $41,688 | −$1,730 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 19 | $23,575 | $39,775 | −$16,200 |
| Music | 14 | $26,241 | $42,892 | −$16,651 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Worth scrutinizing. Median earnings relative to debt are tight.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (780 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Bennington College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Bennington College?
Bennington College has an acceptance rate of 45%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Bennington College hard to get into?
Bennington College is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 45%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does Bennington College cost?
The average net price at Bennington College is about $30,947 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Bennington College?
Bennington College has a graduation rate of 71%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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