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Bentley University

Bentley University is a private campus in Waltham proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. International students are a visible presence at Bentley University — 14.6% of its 4,474 undergraduates come from outside the U.S.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$24,239

family income
under $30k

$23,482

$30–48k

$25,331

$48–75k

$35,581

$75–110k

$49,750

over $110k

These figures don't always rise with income — aid formulas can make a higher bracket cheaper.

Average net price

$37,9302023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Bentley University rose from $20,512 (2008) to $37,930 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$20,512
2009	$30,354
2010	$27,480
2011	$29,084
2012	$29,886
2013	$31,616
2014	$32,713
2015	$34,207
2016	$35,671
2017	$36,919
2018	$38,986
2019	$41,334
2020	$39,437
2021	$39,699
2022	$38,787
2023	$37,930

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$79,5482024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Bentley University rose from $40,964 (2009) to $79,548 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$40,964
2010	$49,699
2011	$51,306
2012	$52,895
2013	$54,806
2014	$56,768
2015	$58,788
2016	$60,895
2017	$63,186
2018	$66,180
2019	$68,577
2020	$71,094
2021	$71,942
2022	$74,902
2023	$77,082
2024	$79,548

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$18,795
2001	$22,050
2002	$22,965
2003	$24,324
2004	$27,244
2005	$28,390
2006	$30,044
2007	$31,696
2008	$34,488
2013	$41,110
2014	$42,511
2015	$44,085
2016	$45,760
2017	$48,000
2018	$49,880
2019	$51,830
2020	$53,790
2021	$54,910
2022	$56,500
2023	$58,150

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Reported tuition is $61,000 before grants and other attendance costs. At Bentley University, aid and other costs change the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 4,474 undergrads, Bentley University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

86.8% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Bentley University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

86.8%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Bentley University rose from 71.3% (entered 1991) to 86.8% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	71.3%
1992 cohort	73.7%
1993 cohort	72.8%
1994 cohort	74.6%
1995 cohort	76.6%
1996 cohort	73.6%
1997 cohort	78.2%
1998 cohort	78.3%
1999 cohort	81.8%
2000 cohort	83.6%
2001 cohort	87%
2002 cohort	82.3%
2003 cohort	89.6%
2004 cohort	88.2%
2005 cohort	87.7%
2006 cohort	84.1%
2007 cohort	87.3%
2008 cohort	88.2%
2009 cohort	88.9%
2010 cohort	88.7%
2011 cohort	91.3%
2012 cohort	88.8%
2013 cohort	89.5%
2014 cohort	89.6%
2015 cohort	88%
2016 cohort	88%
2017 cohort	88.2%
2018 cohort	86.8%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$16,563	$13,938
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$16,250	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$16,250	$9,625
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$17,125	$8,813
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$16,250	$9,000
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$15,370	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$17,125	$11,512
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$17,125	$10,113
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$17,125	$10,366
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$17,125	$8,875
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$17,250	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$19,525	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$21,500	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$25,000	$8,549
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$27,000	$8,625
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$26,995	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$26,500	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$26,000	$10,009
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$25,000	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$25,000	$10,125
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$25,000	$9,625
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$25,023	$11,250

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$86,679

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$102,857

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$120,959

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Bentley University admitted 4,961 of 11,012 applicants in Fall 2024. The 45.1% rate describes that application pool.

45.1%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $58,150 tuition · 2023–24 4,474 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1280–14301600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Bentley University received 11,012 applications and admitted 4,961 (45.1%), with 1,056 enrolling.

Bentley University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Bentley University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 630–700 and Math was 650–730 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1280–1430 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	630	660	700
SAT Math	650	690	730
ACT Composite	28	30	31

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

45.1%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	38.1%
Fall 2002	46.2%
Fall 2003	46.4%
Fall 2004	44.5%
Fall 2005	43.4%
Fall 2006	39%
Fall 2007	37.8%
Fall 2008	37.5%
Fall 2009	42.6%
Fall 2010	46.5%
Fall 2011	43.4%
Fall 2012	45.1%
Fall 2013	43.8%
Fall 2014	46.1%
Fall 2015	42.3%
Fall 2016	46.3%
Fall 2017	44.1%
Fall 2018	43.2%
Fall 2019	46.7%
Fall 2020	57.8%
Fall 2021	60.9%
Fall 2022	57.9%
Fall 2023	48.4%
Fall 2024	45.1%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1280–1430Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	1060	1230
Fall 2002	1080	1250
Fall 2003	1100	1270
Fall 2004	1120	1270
Fall 2005	1150	1300
Fall 2006	1130	1300
Fall 2007	1150	1310
Fall 2008	1160	1310
Fall 2009	1140	1310
Fall 2010	1120	1300
Fall 2011	1090	1285
Fall 2012	1123	1290
Fall 2013	1140	1310
Fall 2014	1150	1330
Fall 2015	1140	1330
Fall 2016	1060	1290
Fall 2017	1210	1380
Fall 2018	1240	1410
Fall 2019	1230	1410
Fall 2020	1180	1360
Fall 2021	1240	1413
Fall 2022	1258	1420
Fall 2023	1250	1410
Fall 2024	1280	1430

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

28–31Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	22	27
Fall 2002	22	26
Fall 2003	22	28
Fall 2006	23	27
Fall 2007	24	28
Fall 2008	25	29
Fall 2009	25	28
Fall 2010	25	28
Fall 2011	25	29
Fall 2012	25	29
Fall 2013	26	30
Fall 2014	26	30
Fall 2015	26	30
Fall 2016	25	30
Fall 2017	27	31
Fall 2018	28	32
Fall 2019	27	31
Fall 2020	26	31
Fall 2021	28	32
Fall 2022	28	32
Fall 2023	29	32
Fall 2024	28	31

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

4,474Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Bentley University has held near 4,474 from Fall 2002 to Fall 2024.

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	4,252
Fall 2003	4,273
Fall 2004	4,285
Fall 2005	4,347
Fall 2006	4,296
Fall 2007	4,184
Fall 2008	4,248
Fall 2009	4,190
Fall 2010	4,191
Fall 2011	4,161
Fall 2012	4,180
Fall 2013	4,172
Fall 2014	4,190
Fall 2015	4,137
Fall 2016	4,155
Fall 2017	4,203
Fall 2018	4,177
Fall 2019	4,157
Fall 2020	4,059
Fall 2021	3,942
Fall 2022	4,070
Fall 2023	4,288
Fall 2024	4,474

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

93%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Bentley University has held near 93% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	93%
Fall 2003 cohort	95%
Fall 2004 cohort	94%
Fall 2005 cohort	95%
Fall 2006 cohort	92%
Fall 2007 cohort	94%
Fall 2008 cohort	93%
Fall 2009 cohort	93%
Fall 2010 cohort	94%
Fall 2011 cohort	95%
Fall 2012 cohort	94%
Fall 2013 cohort	94%
Fall 2014 cohort	95%
Fall 2015 cohort	94%
Fall 2016 cohort	92%
Fall 2017 cohort	93%
Fall 2018 cohort	92%
Fall 2019 cohort	92%
Fall 2020 cohort	91%
Fall 2021 cohort	91%
Fall 2022 cohort	93%
Fall 2023 cohort	93%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Bentley University

16.1% of Bentley University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes Bentley University as a primarily residential campus of 4,474 undergraduates — and 92.7% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Bentley University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1280–1430 — their midpoint is above the MA four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Bentley University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Bentley University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Bentley University45.1%

Massachusetts median70.3%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Bentley University$61,000

Massachusetts median$46,700

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Bentley University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Bentley University$120,959

Massachusetts median$62,832

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Bentley University, Massachusetts and national reference values
Metric & basis	Bentley University	Massachusetts median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	45.1%	70.3%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$61,000	$46,700	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$120,959	$62,832	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Bentley University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Bentley University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 13 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Non-Professional Legal Studies	$148,087
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management	$122,075
Finance and Financial Management Services	$113,795
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$111,853
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods	$111,433
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other	$109,922
Business/Managerial Economics	$108,886
Accounting and Related Services	$108,343
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	$105,183
Mathematics	$101,971
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$99,514
Marketing	$88,461
Business/Corporate Communications	$80,781

These 13 fields listed for Bentley University measure earnings after completion. The $120,959 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 25 additional Bentley University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Bentley University report?

Bentley University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1280–1430 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Bentley University's acceptance rate?

45.1% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 4,961 admitted from 11,012 applicants.

How much does Bentley University cost?

At Bentley University, tuition is $61,000. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does Bentley University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $120,959. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Massachusetts

Berklee College of Music — 43.5% admitted
Brandeis University — 40.5% admitted
Laboure College of Healthcare — 50% admitted
Clark University — 39.5% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.