Bentley University
Waltham, Massachusetts · Private · 4,474 undergraduates · bentley.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
47%
of 11,403 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1230 to 1370
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$93,120Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Bentley University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
47% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$93,120
a year in 2027-28, from a $93,120 sticker price
What to do with your 1310
Send your score
About 68% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1190, and yours is above it.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
Source: Undergraduate Admission - Applying as a First-Year Student | Bentley University · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov15Early Decision · November 15, 2026Binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll.
- Jan15Early Decision II · January 15, 2027A second binding round, after Early Decision.
- Jan15Regular Decision · January 15, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
47%
of applicants were admitted: 5,393 of 11,403 for fall 2025.
Early Decision
Binding. 64% of early applicants were admitted.
Wait list
1,568 students were offered a spot; 101 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 29% of them sent SAT scores and 4% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1230 to 1370
Reading and Writing 610 to 690
Math 610 to 710
ACT composite 29 to 33
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160019%
- 1200 to 139965%
- 1000 to 119913%
- 800 to 9992.4%
- 600 to 7990%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$93,120
a year
- Tuition$68,490
- Food and housing$21,770
- Books and supplies$1,250
- Transportation and other$1,610
Bentley University published $89,540 for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$25,905
- $30,001 to $48,000$17,774
- $48,001 to $75,000$27,820
- $75,001 to $110,000$36,570
- Over $110,000$50,907
Financial aid
87%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$47,954
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
36%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $21,545 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Required. It's a second, more detailed aid form some colleges use for their own grants.
- Aid priority date: 11/15
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
- Aid deadline: 1/15
- The last day to send aid forms.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
34 of 34
Earn credit with a score of 3
None
You need a 4 or 5 for credit here.
A 3-credit course is worth
about $6,850Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art History | 4 | 3 | HE 1100 |
| Biology | 4 | 3 | NAS 1123 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 3 | MA 131 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 6 | MA 131 & MA 139 |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 4 | 3 | MA 131 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 3 | NAS 1123 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | MLCH 201 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | 3 | MLCH 202 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | GLS 102 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 3 | CS 180 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 3 | CS 150 |
| Drawing | 4 | 3 | HE 1100 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | EMS 101 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | EMS 1100 |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 3 | NAS 1123 |
| European History | 4 | 3 | HI 329 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | MLFR 201 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 3 | MLFR 202 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | ML 1200 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | GLS 110 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | MLIT 201 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 3 | MLIT 202 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | MLJA 201 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 3 | MLJA 202 |
| Latin | 4 | 3 | ML 1200 |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | EC 112 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | EC 111 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 3 | NAS 1123 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 3 | NAS 1123 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 3 | NAS 1123 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 3 | NAS 1123 |
| Psychology | 4 | 3 | PSY 1100 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | MLSP 201 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 3 | MLSP 202 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 3 | MLSP 304 |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | ST 113 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | GLS 100 |
| United States History | 4 | 3 | HI 343 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 3 | HI 200 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
88%
Come back for a second year
93%
Typical earnings
$126,427
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Bentley University$119,173
- All colleges$80,105
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 12 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Bentley University. The Bentley University logo is a trademark of the college.