Colleges by Location
Colleges by Fields of Study
Colleges by Tuition Range
Colleges by GPA Range
College by SAT Range
Colleges by ACT Score
Graduate Schools by Location
Graduate Schools by Fields of Study
Graduate School by Degree Type
Paying for Graduate School
Online Graduate Programs
Test Preparation
Career Planning
College Planning
Graduate School Planning
Applying to Graduate School
- More
Bennington , VT
Bennington College is a small, progressive liberal arts college located in Bennington, Vermont. Founded in 1932, the college has a reputation for its innovative approach to education. Bennington offers a unique, student-centered learning experience where students have the freedom to design their own curriculum.
At Bennington College, students have the liberty to create their individualized programs of study and pursue their passions across a wide range of disciplines. In addition to traditional areas of study like the humanities, sciences, and social sciences, Bennington emphasizes creativity and collaboration through its arts programs. The visual and performing arts play a central role at the college, with exceptional facilities and resources available to students.
The college prides itself on its close-knit community and supportive atmosphere. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1, small class sizes allow for personalized attention and meaningful interactions with professors. Bennington's faculty are not only accomplished scholars in their fields but also dedicated mentors who foster students' intellectual growth and creative pursuits. The college's commitment to experiential learning and interdisciplinary exploration, combined with its beautiful campus and vibrant artistic community, make Bennington College a distinctive and appealing choice for students seeking an unconventional and engaging college experience.
Bennington College is a private comprehensive higher education institution located in Bennington, VT. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 44%. The freshman retention rate at Bennington College is 82.03% and the six-year graduation rate is 71%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 15.
Explore this school's profile to find out all the essential things about Bennington College.
Quick Facts
797
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$65,400
Tuition
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
71%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission increases your chances of getting admitted. Check out some vital data about admission policy and requirements at Bennington College.
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,334 in 2025. Bennington College has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers an unmatched educational experience.
Test Scores
10.4% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 3.9% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 25% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 69% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 6% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 67 and 33 between 24-29.
The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 32 and the average GPA was 3.53. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Bennington College; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 725 and an average SAT Math score of 610.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 15. If you plan on applying as a transfer student, the application deadline is March 15.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Bennington College was 82.03%, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 71%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Making the decision of which school is the best place for you is not simple. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better understanding of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Bennington College in 2025 was 927.
That year, the school had 95% of students coming from another state. There was a total of 797 undergrad students, including 92 international students. The school reported to have a total of 57 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 215 male and 659 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 18, while the number of African American students was 32. 70 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 47 as multirace. There were also 16 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this institution have.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Bennington College estimated tuition price.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $65,400 in 2025. As Bennington College is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $865.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. Most students have to pay about $2,000 for books and supplies during their time at Bennington College.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do schools typically charge for accommodation and meals?
At Bennington College, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $19,110. If you only needed a dormitory room, you had to pay $10,375 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $10,375.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 65,400 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,110 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 2,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 86,510 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial support for students. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at Bennington College.
According to the most recent data, 150 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students came to $57,907.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 452 students who got need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Bennington College is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 452. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $1,297,486, and state $79,601. The students of Bennington College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $22,171,063, and external in the amount of $372,499.
$43,380
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 61 students overall (including freshmen) at Bennington College in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 28 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $12,275,820. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $895,267 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Bennington College was 9:1: that means 9 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 148 faculty members. This number included 73 men and 75 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Bennington College.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about campus life at Bennington College.
It has a campus size of 440 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 45. The most popular student organization is FLoW Student Collective, followed by Student Educational Policies Committee and Student Council. Other popular student organizations at this school are Volleyball and Soccer.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you.
Student Services
Bennington College offers a number of services vital for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The school has electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Bennington College is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Bennington College.
Career Counselling
At Bennington College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career.
FAQ
-
Bennington College is located in Bennington, VT.
-
Bennington College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
-
According to the latest information, the tuition for Bennington College is 65,400 USD a year.
-
This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
-
According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Bennington College is 44%.
-
The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Bennington College is 82.03%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
Find the best schools for you.
Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
