Bentley University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Bentley University is a private institution located in Waltham, Massachusetts with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Bentley University admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 45%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1340 and an ACT composite around 30. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $37,930 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Bentley University?

Admitted students at Bentley University typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses.

What does Bentley University weight in admissions?

Bentley University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Bentley University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 650–730, with an EBRW midpoint near 650. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–31. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Bentley University actually cost?

Published tuition is $61,000 for in-state students and $61,000 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $20,140 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $37,930 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 16% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Bentley University

Will my child graduate from Bentley University?

These predict outcomes at Bentley University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Bentley University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Bentley University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Finance and Financial Management Services, Accounting and Related Services and Business Administration, Management and Operations. Across all programs, Bentley University confers roughly 1,138 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Finance and Financial Management Services program report a median income of about $110,594 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Bentley University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Bentley University disclosed 9 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.0 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 9 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Bentley University?

About 73% of undergraduates at Bentley University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 15% of men join a fraternity and 27% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Massachusetts parents ask about

• Babson College
  17% acceptance
• Merrimack College
  70% acceptance
• Stonehill College
  66% acceptance
• Clark University
  40% acceptance
• Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
  25% acceptance
• Harvard University
  4% acceptance
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  5% acceptance
• Boston University
  11% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Bentley University