Bentley University
A good fit for students who prefer a mid-size campus and students focused on high earning potential. no major red flags in the data. graduates earn a median of $95,400 within 10 years; strong 87% graduation rate.
About This School
Bentley University is a private nonprofit institution located in Waltham, Massachusetts with approximately 4,474 undergraduate students enrolled. The school is moderately selective, accepting approximately 45% of applicants. The average net price after financial aid is $37,930 per year. The graduation rate is 87%, and the typical graduate earns $95,400 within 10 years of enrollment.
Bentley University is a private university in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. It was founded in 1917 as a school of accounting and finance in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood. Bentley has one undergraduate school which offers 17 business majors and 14 arts and sciences majors, as well as 39 minors. Its graduate school offers five master's degrees, an MBA with eight disciplines, and three PhD programs.
This is a strong option for students focused on business careers — graduates earn a median of $95,400 ten years out, which is well above average, and the 88% graduation rate and 93% freshman retention suggest students are genuinely engaged and finishing what they start. The $38,787 average net price is real money, but the relatively modest $24,007 median debt load makes the return on investment look reasonable. Worth considering if you want a focused, career-oriented business education near Boston, though students seeking broad liberal arts exposure or a large university experience may find the specialized environment limiting.
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.
Bentley University graduates earn most above the national rate in Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($105,183 vs $53,072 nationally).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 256 | $113,795 | $83,343 | +$30,452 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 180 | $108,343 | $76,194 | +$32,149 |
| Marketing | 108 | $88,461 | $69,303 | +$19,158 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 108 | $99,514 | $68,257 | +$31,257 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | 106 | $109,922 | $69,830 | +$40,092 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 69 | $111,433 | $86,176 | +$25,257 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 40 | $111,853 | $92,374 | +$19,479 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 30 | $108,886 | $77,981 | +$30,905 |
| Business/Corporate Communications | 18 | $80,781 | $65,784 | +$14,997 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 7 | $122,075 | $85,063 | +$37,012 |
| Mathematics | 2 | $101,971 | $69,562 | +$32,409 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 2 | $105,183 | $53,072 | +$52,111 |
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?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
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 (4,474 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Bentley University 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 Bentley University?
Bentley University has an acceptance rate of 45%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Bentley University hard to get into?
Bentley University is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 45%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does Bentley University cost?
The average net price at Bentley University is about $37,930 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 Bentley University?
Bentley University has a graduation rate of 87%, 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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