Non-Profit Private
Accredited · New England Commission on Higher Education
Waltham, Massachusetts
48.4% Acceptance Rate
Bentley University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
48.4%Acceptance Rate
3.75Avg GPA
1340Avg SAT
31Avg ACT
$77,082Annual Cost
$120,959Grad Salary
15.1%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
48.4%
Avg GPA
3.75
Avg SAT
1340
Avg ACT
31
Selectivity
Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1250–1410
ACT Middle 50%
29–32
Need-Based Aid
15.1% receive Pell
Bentley University, established in 1917 as an accounting school, now leads in business-arts-technology integration. Home to the nationally ranked Bentley Analytics Lab.
The 163-acre Waltham campus features the Jennison Hall trading room, high-tech arts media studio, and newly constructed academic commons. Its business curriculum blends with liberal arts through the Bentley Liberal Studies Major.
Bentley University Acceptance Rate
Bentley University is selective but reasonable: about 48.4% of applicants (48 per 100) are admitted each cycle.
What Bentley Admissions Looks For
- Holistic Read: Recommendations and community involvement carry real weight here.
- Test Scores Help: Where submitted, scores near or above the middle 50% strengthen an application.
Selectivity at a Glance
Selective
Selectivity scale: Selective — 48.4% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.75 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.55 – 3.74
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.30
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Bentley University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Bentley University is November 1 for Early Decision I applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 94 days left — Early Decision I
Early Decision I
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Early Action
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Early Decision II
January 8
Decision by: February 15
Regular Decision
January 8
Decision by: March 15
💡 The scholarship deadline (November 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Bentley GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Bentley is 3.75. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.45 and 3.75? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.95–4.15.Bentley GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective; GPA is within the typical admitted range.
Recommended Strategy: Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT) in the top 5th percentile.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.75 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.55 – 3.74
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.35 – 3.54
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.34
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Test-optional through fall 2027; self-reported scores accepted during review.
- Three rounds: ED I (Nov 15), ED II (Jan 15), Regular Decision (Jan 15); Spring 2027 option (Nov 1).
- Curriculum expectation: 4 yrs English, 4 yrs math (incl. pre-calc), 3 yrs lab science, 3 yrs history, 3 yrs foreign language.
- "January Acceptance" alternate pathway exists for qualified applicants not admitted to fall - notified mid-March, deposit due May 1.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Bentley
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Bentley University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Bentley University (Bentley) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Bentley is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Bentley Without SAT or ACT?
Bentley considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Bentley University Average SAT Score: 1340
The average SAT score of admitted students at Bentley University is 1340 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1340 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean, without being in elite-tier territory.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1410 SAT or 32 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Bentley University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1250, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Bentley. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 675 | 630 | 720 |
| SAT Reading | 655 | 620 | 690 |
| SAT Composite | 1340 | 1250 | 1410 |
Below 1250, you're behind most admitted students; at 1410 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1350
Can I get into Bentley University (Bentley) with a 1400 SAT?
A 1400 SAT puts you ahead of most of Bentley's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Bentley University (Bentley) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Bentley is 31.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 31 — Very Competitive
An average of 31 is well above the national ACT mean.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 29 | 27 | 31 |
| ACT English | 30 | 26 | 33 |
| ACT Composite | 31 | 29 | 32 |
Can I get into Bentley University with a 32 ACT?
A 32 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Bentley's admitted students — a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section (Science, especially, at STEM-focused schools) stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Bentley.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Bentley
Selective Strategy: Competitive Positioning
At Bentley, admissions looks for reliable, high-achieving students. The goal is to land as a top-tier applicant — that's what triggers both admission and the best merit aid.
Submit all three optional essays anyway
Bentley frames them explicitly as demonstrated interest. Skipping them at a school that reads holistically makes you look less invested than peers who submit all three.
Anchor the values essay in one concrete story
For "pick 1-2 of Caring, Collaboration, Diversity, Honesty, Impact, Learning, Respect," use a specific recent moment, then connect it forward to something concrete at Bentley (a club, a specific major within the business core).
Show growth, not regret, in the reflection essay
For "first day of high school, what would you do differently," end on what you carried forward - Bentley's business/leadership focus means readers screen for maturity, not just hindsight.
Treat Women's Programs essays as a separate mini-application
Global Women Scholars/Women's Leadership Program require four additional SDG- and program-specific prompts (250-500 words each), all mandatory - distinct from the standard pick-any-of-three essays.
Expert Insight:
A common failure is treating the three "optional" essays as filler and recycling one generic "why business school" answer across all three. Bentley's specific prompts (values, identity, high-school reflection) make recycled answers easy to spot, and since these essays are explicit interest signals, a weak or skipped set can hurt borderline applicants more than at schools where supplements are cosmetic.
Bentley Profile
Full Name
Bentley University (Bentley)
City
Waltham
State
Massachusetts
ZIP Code
02452-4705
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
Is a Bentley Degree Worth It?
Whether Bentley is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $82,400, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.57%.
How much does a degree from Bentley Cost?
The sticker price is $77,082/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
15.1% of students receive a Pell Grant and 42.7% take federal loans at Bentley — file your FAFSA early and list Bentley as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Bentley Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $120,959 — about 198% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Bentley University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
| Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT | 1323 | 31 |
| United States Coast Guard Academy | New London, CT | 1290 | 28 |
| University of Delaware | Newark, DE | 1297 | 29 |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | 1323 | 29 |
| Rollins College | Winter Park, FL | 1304 | 29 |
| Agnes Scott College | Decatur, GA | 1296 | 29 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Bentley University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1344 | 31 |
| University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT | 1338 | 31 |
| Centre College | Danville, KY | 1345 | 29 |
| Clark University | Worcester, MA | 1339 | 32 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Bentley University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | 1417 | 32 |
| Colorado School of Mines | Golden, CO | 1403 | 31 |
| Connecticut College | New London, CT | 1412 | 32 |
| Trinity College | Hartford, CT | 1396 | 32 |
| American University | Washington, DC | 1392 | 31 |
Degree Programs at Bentley
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Bentley Admissions
Bentley University graduates typically earn around $120,959 a year, on the higher end depending on industry.
At about $77,082 a year, Bentley University's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
Bentley University's Pell Grant rate of 15.1% sits below the national average — merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 48.4%, Bentley University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Bentley University average a 3.75 GPA.
Bentley University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.45 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.35, Bentley University becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Bentley University — aim above 1340, ideally within the 1250–1410 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Bentley University is November 1 for Early Decision I applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 15.
The application fee is 75. Fee waivers may be available — check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is November 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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