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Bentley University

Private

Waltham, MA

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Located in Waltham, MA, Bentley University is a private mid-sized school with roughly 4,474 undergraduates. It's moderately selective, admitting about 45% of applicants. Its highest-earning reported major is Non-Professional Legal Studies (Legal Professions and Studies), where graduates report median earnings of $148,087/year four years out. Most students arrange their own housing since on-campus living isn't required.

Admissions

Admit rate45%
SAT range1280–1430
ACT range28–31
Undergrads4,474
Yield (admits who enroll)20%
Next deadlineNov 15, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$79,548
4-year grad rate88%
Median earnings, 10yr out$120,959

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

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How Bentley University weighs your application

From Bentley University'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 GPAImportant
Standardized test scoresConsidered
Application essayImportant
RecommendationsImportant
Nonacademic factors
InterviewConsidered
Extracurricular activitiesImportant
Talent/abilityImportant
Character/personal qualitiesConsidered
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceConsidered
State residencyConsidered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workImportant
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Important
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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans43%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out91%

"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

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Finance and Financial Management Services$113,795/yr
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$111,433/yr
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other$109,922/yr
Business/Managerial Economics$108,886/yr
Accounting and Related Services$108,343/yr
Business Administration, Management and Operations$99,514/yr
Marketing$88,461/yr
Business/Corporate Communications$80,781/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management$122,075/yr
Computer and Information Sciences, General$111,853/yr
Legal Professions and Studies
Non-Professional Legal Studies$148,087/yr
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$105,183/yr
Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics$101,971/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 capacity3,350
Typical room charge$11,320
Typical board charge$7,340

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

GPAConsidered, not required
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 Bentley University look for in applicants?

Per Bentley University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Bentley University's acceptance rate?

Bentley University in Waltham, MA admits approximately 45% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Bentley University?

Admitted students at Bentley University typically score between 1280–1430 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Bentley University?

Admitted students at Bentley University typically score between 28–31 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Bentley University cost?

Bentley University's total cost of attendance is reported at $79,548 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Bentley University?

Bentley University's earliest deadline is Nov 15, 2026 (ED1), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Bentley University require students to live on campus?

No -- Bentley University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

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