Bentley University
Waltham, Massachusetts · Private Nonprofit · 45.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 94/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Bentley University scores 94 (Exceptional Value) on the CampusROI scale, driven by a 3.4-year payback period, $67,000 average 6-year earnings, 86.8% completion rate, and a repayment rate of 94.9%. The net price of $37,930 is high in absolute terms, but the earnings velocity is exceptional: Finance earns $72,309 year one and $113,795 at year four; Accounting earns $72,823 year one and $108,343 at year four. Bentley's singular focus on business and analytics education drives a concentrated, high-earning graduate pipeline almost entirely into finance, accounting, consulting, and technology. Among the programs with at least moderate volume, Finance (256 graduates) and Accounting (180 graduates) dominate. Management Sciences (69 graduates) earns $81,103 year one, the highest reported year-one figure at this school. The 10-year median earnings of $120,959 is a credible long-run picture. Bentley does not offer a broad liberal arts curriculum - this is a specialized business university, and the Scorecard data directly reflect that focus.
Graduates recoup their total investment in just 3.4 years. The median across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Bentley University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $61,000/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $61,000/yr |
| Average net price | $37,930/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $151,720 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $120,959 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $67,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,023 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 3.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 86.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,474 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $61,000/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $37,930/year, or roughly $151,720 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $21,196/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $49,190/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,023, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($67,000) and comes to 0.37, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $21,196 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,587 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $26,164 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $33,653 |
| $110,001+ | $49,190 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $21,196 per year - not low in absolute terms. Bentley's Pell rate of 16.1% reflects limited low-income enrollment. That said, at a 3.4-year payback period and $67,000 average 6-year earnings, the financial case is strong for students who complete and enter finance or accounting. The 86.8% completion rate further reduces the risk of non-completion.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $26,164 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $33,653. These are significant costs but are offset by the earnings trajectory - Finance and Accounting graduates reaching $72-73k at year one can service this debt comfortably within 3-4 years. The payback period of 3.4 years means even middle-income families paying $100-130k all-in see a rapid return if the student enters a high-earning business track.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $49,190 per year - close to full sticker. Over four years, this approaches $200,000 in total cost. At $67,000 average earnings and a 3.4-year payback, this is a defensible full-pay investment. Bentley's 10-year median of $120,959 is a strong long-run data point. The risk profile is concentrated in programs like Marketing (B grade) rather than Finance and Accounting (also B grade but with higher absolute earnings).
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Bentley University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management | $113,795 | B |
| Accounting | $108,343 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $99,514 | B |
| Marketing | $88,461 | B |
| Business, General | $109,922 | B |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $111,433 | B+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $111,853 | B |
| Business Information Systems | $108,886 | B |
| Business/Corporate Communications | $80,781 | B |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration | $122,075 | B+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Management Sciences (69 graduates) is the highest year-one earner at Bentley: $81,103 at year one and $111,433 at year four. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.308 (B+ grade) and median debt of $25,000 reflect a program that places well into quantitative finance, actuarial, and analytics roles. The four-year figure of $111k is strong and consistent with senior analyst or early management tracks in financial services.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance is the dominant program by graduate volume (256) with $72,309 year-one earnings and $113,795 at year four. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.360 (B grade) and median debt of $26,000. The four-year trajectory to $113k reflects Bentley's deep pipeline into financial services firms in Boston and New York. This program represents the core Bentley value proposition and delivers on it consistently.
Accounting
Accounting (180 graduates) earns $72,823 year one and $108,343 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.371 (B grade) and median debt of $27,000. Year-one earnings reflect Big Four and regional firm starting salaries in the Boston market.
Business, General
Business General (106 graduates) earns $70,365 year one and $109,922 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.370 (B grade) and median debt of $26,000. This designation likely captures students who complete Bentley's core business curriculum without a narrow major specialization. The earnings are strong, confirming that the Bentley brand and generalist business preparation translates to good starting salaries across roles.
Marketing
Marketing (108 graduates) earns $60,447 year one and $88,461 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.430 (B grade) and median debt of $26,000. The four-year jump to $88k reflects progression into marketing management and analytics roles.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 92.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 94.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 94.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 95.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Bentley University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 45.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 650-730 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 630-700 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 28-31 |
| Enrollment | 4,474 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 16.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $15,847 |
Bentley's admission rate is 45.1%. SAT 650-730 Math and 630-700 Reading covers the middle range - the quantitative floor is meaningful given the finance and analytics curriculum. Students with strong quantitative preparation and business focus have a realistic shot at admission.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Bentley's ROI is 94.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bentley University (this school) | 94 | $37,930 | $120,959 |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | 92 | $41,346 | $108,772 |
| Santa Clara University | 90 | $50,062 | $109,183 |
| Amherst College | 90 | $23,367 | $77,644 |
| University of San Diego | 88 | $30,365 | $86,522 |
| American International College | 38 | $23,274 | $53,124 |
Who Thrives Here
Bentley admits 45.1% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 650-730 Math and 630-700 Reading; ACT composite 28-31. At 4,474 students, it is mid-sized for a business-focused institution. Pell grant rate of 16.1% is low, indicating a mostly middle-to-upper-income student body. Students who are clear about a business, finance, or analytics career trajectory find a highly optimized environment at Bentley - the faculty, alumni network, and curriculum are built around that path. Students with genuine uncertainty about their professional direction, or who want a broad liberal arts experience, are likely to be under-served. The Boston-area location (Waltham) provides direct access to the financial services and technology labor markets.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether Bentley University is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $151,720 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $120,959 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 3.4 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 86.8% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $25,023 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $67,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Bentley University: Common Questions
Is Bentley University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Bentley University pays off. It scores 94/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $37,930 a year after aid ($151,720 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $120,959 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 3.4 years to earn back.
How much does Bentley University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $37,930 a year, or roughly $151,720 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Bentley University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $120,959 ten years after enrolling, roughly $79,159 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Bentley University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 3.4 years for Bentley University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Bentley University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,023, against average earnings of $67,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Bentley University?
The six-year graduation rate is 86.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.