College Intel
← Back to colleges

Bennington College

Private

Bennington, VT

Visit website ↗

Located in Bennington, VT, Bennington College is a private very small school with roughly 780 undergraduates. It's moderately selective, admitting about 45% of applicants. Its highest-earning reported major is Visual and Performing Arts, General (Visual and Performing Arts), where graduates report median earnings of $39,958/year four years out. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus.

Admissions

Admit rate45%
SAT range1291–1403
ACT range30–32
Undergrads780
Yield (admits who enroll)17%
Next deadlineNov 1, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$87,284
4-year grad rate69%
Median earnings, 10yr out$38,289

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against Bennington College's numbers?

Check your chances here

How Bennington College weighs your application

From Bennington College's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankConsidered
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresConsidered
Application essayVery important
RecommendationsVery important
Nonacademic factors
InterviewImportant
Extracurricular activitiesConsidered
Talent/abilityVery important
Character/personal qualitiesVery important
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Not considered
Geographical residenceNot considered
State residencyNot considered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Not considered
BUILD YOUR FIT SCORESee how Bennington College actually weighs your profile, free, no account needed
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Bennington College weighs in your application

Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans50%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out74%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Visual and Performing Arts
Visual and Performing Arts, General$39,958/yr
Music$26,241/yr
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$23,575/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity771
Typical room charge$9,620
Typical board charge$8,100

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPARequired
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Bennington College look for in applicants?

Per Bennington College's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, application essay, recommendations, talent/ability, character/personal qualities as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Bennington College's acceptance rate?

Bennington College in Bennington, VT admits approximately 45% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Bennington College?

Admitted students at Bennington College typically score between 1291–1403 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Bennington College?

Admitted students at Bennington College typically score between 30–32 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Bennington College cost?

Bennington College's total cost of attendance is reported at $87,284 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Bennington College?

Bennington College's earliest deadline is Nov 1, 2026 (ED1), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Bennington College require students to live on campus?

No -- Bennington College doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

Comparing Bennington College against another school?

Open the comparison view