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Waltham , MA
Bentley University is a prestigious private university located in Waltham, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. Founded in 1917, Bentley is widely recognized for its excellence in business education, combining a strong foundation in business with a liberal arts education. The university offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs in business, finance, accounting, marketing, and entrepreneurship, among others.
One of the distinguishing features of Bentley University is its emphasis on experiential learning. Students are encouraged to engage in hands-on, real-world experiences through internships, co-ops, and global study programs. Bentley's prime location provides students with incredible opportunities to intern or work at prestigious companies located in the Boston area, fostering a strong connection between academia and the business world. Additionally, the university's state-of-the-art facilities, including a trading room equipped with Bloomberg terminals, a technology-rich campus, and numerous research centers, ensure that students have access to cutting-edge resources.
Bentley University also strives to create a supportive and inclusive community. With a relatively small student body, the university offers a close-knit environment where students can collaborate, network, and develop strong relationships with their peers and faculty. The university actively promotes diversity and inclusion, providing a variety of resources, programs, and initiatives to foster a sense of belonging for all students. Bentley also offers a range of extracurricular activities, including clubs, organizations, and NCAA Division II athletic teams, providing students with opportunities to explore their interests, develop leadership skills, and balance their academic and social lives.
Located in Waltham, MA and set in a suburban environment, Bentley University is a private university. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 45%. The freshman retention rate at Bentley University is 93% and the six-year graduation rate is 87%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 15. The transfer application deadline is April 1.
Here are some latest data on important things to consider about Bentley University.
Quick Facts
4,526
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$61,000
Tuition
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
87%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Learn some relevant facts about admission at Bentley University.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 4,961 in 2025. Bentley University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the candidate. 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. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Bentley University provides an unmatched educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 19% and ACT scores 2%. 28.06% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 65.31% between 1,200 and 1,399, 6.12% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 0.51% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 56.25 and 43.75 between 24-29.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 662 and an average SAT Math score of 684.
Deadlines
The cutoff date for submitting applications to this school is January 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is April 1.
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. 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 Bentley University was 93%, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 87%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the right fit for you is not a simple task. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Bentley University in 2025 was 5,333.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 53% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 4,526, 654 of which were foreign students. The school reported to have a total of 96 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 2,883 male and 1,907 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 447, and the number of African American students was 200. 638 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 133 as multirace. The school also had 2 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 5 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 46 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some important information on Bentley University costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $61,000 for all full-time domestic students. Since Bentley University is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students totaled $480 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university. The approximate expense of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,200.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Bentley University was $20,140 in 2025. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school stood at $12,220, according to the data from 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 61,000 |
| Room and Board | $ 20,140 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 82,340 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial aid can be a great deal for many students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid students could get at Bentley University.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 543 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students reached $46,934.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
1,915 students were designated some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 1,937. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $4,625,472, and state $1,356,200. The students of Bentley University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $70,291,211, and external in the amount of $3,547,713.
$1,998
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 352 students overall (including freshmen) at Bentley University in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 100 full-time freshman. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $33,360,610. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $393,190 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2025, this ratio at Bentley University was 12:1. That means that there were 12 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 512 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 298 male and 211 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Bentley University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about social life at Bentley University.
Its campus spans 163 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
There are 130 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. 11 percent of male and 19 of female students are participants in different organizations at Bentley University. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is BEAR Outdoors Club, followed by Bentley Consulting Association and Campus Activities Board. Other popular organizations among the students at Bentley University are Bentley Entrepreneurship Society and Bentley Real Estate Group.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? Bentley University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Bentley University offers a number of services crucial for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of Bentley University.
All in all, campus life at Bentley University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
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 Bentley University.
Career Counselling
At Bentley University, 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. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Being aware of the projected salary upon finishing your studies can be important in determining if a specific school is in line with your career ambitions.
The starting salary for graduates employed within six months of graduating at this school averages 72,469 USD.
$72,469
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Bentley University is located in Waltham, MA.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for Bentley University is 61,000 USD a year.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Bentley University is 45%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Bentley University is 93%.
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.
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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.
