Bennington College

www.bennington.edu/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$58,848

2.61% growth from 2020

2021 Average Net Price

$35,569

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

1.76%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

66.9%

1,726 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

884

91.9% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

67.8%

145 Graduates

About

Bennington College is a higher education institution located in Bennington County, VT. In 2021, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Bennington College were Other English Language & Literature (40 degrees awarded), General Public Policy Analysis (2 degrees), and General Dance (1 degrees).

In 2021, 270 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Bennington College. 73% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 27% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (168 degrees), 6 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (28 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Bennington College is $58,848, which is $30,343 more than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,505).

Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus Baccalaureate Colleges

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Bennington College is $58,848, which is $30,343 more than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,505).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $35,569.

In 2021, 83% of undergraduate students attending Bennington College received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 46% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$58,848

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Bennington College was $58,848. The cost of tuition at Bennington College is $30,343 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,505).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Bennington College (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$35,569

2021 Value

0.517%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Bennington College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $35,569. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Bennington College grew by 0.517%.

This chart compares the average net price of Bennington College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$16,840

Room and Board

$1,000

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Bennington College was of $16,840 in 2021. The cost of room and board increased by 3.95% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,000. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 16.7% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Bennington College (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

83%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

46%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

83% of undergraduate students at Bennington College received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a decline of 5.68% with respect to 2020, when 88% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Bennington College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

1.76%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Bennington College was 1.76%, which represents 3 out of the 170 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Bennington College received 1,726 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 24.9% annual growth. Out of those 1,726 applicants, 1,155 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 66.9% acceptance rate.

There were 884 students enrolled at Bennington College in 2021.

Bennington College has an overall enrollment yield of 21.6%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

66.9%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

1,155

Accepted Out of 1,726

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Bennington College was 66.9% (1,155 admissions from 1,726 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 60%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 24.9%, while admissions grew by 39.3%..

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Bennington College (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

Enrollment

Bennington College had a total enrollment of 884 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Bennington College is 812 students and the part-time enrollment is 72. This means that 91.9% of students enrolled at Bennington College are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Bennington College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 60.4% White, 10.5% Hispanic or Latino, 3.96% Two or More Races, 2.94% Black or African American, 2.38% Asian, and 0.452% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Bennington College in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (41.1%), followed by White Male (19.9%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (8.44%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (54.9%), followed by White Male (12.4%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (6.19%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

91.9%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Bennington College in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 884 students. The full-time enrollment at Bennington College is 812 and the part-time enrollment is 72. This means that 91.9% of students enrolled at Bennington College are enrolled full-time compared with 79.9% at similar Baccalaureate Colleges.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Bennington College (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

84%

2021 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Bennington College was 84%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Baccalaureate Colleges (72%), Bennington College had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Bennington College (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
534 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
93 enrolled students
Two or More Races
35 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Bennington College is 60.4% White, 10.5% Hispanic or Latino, 3.96% Two or More Races, 2.94% Black or African American, 2.38% Asian, and 0.452% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Baccalaureate Colleges is 55% White, 13.5% Black or African American, and 13.4% Hispanic or Latino.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 34 students (3.85%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 124 more women than men received degrees from Bennington College. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Bennington College is white (168 degrees awarded). There were 6 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (28 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Bennington College is Other English Language & Literature (40 degrees awarded), followed by General Public Policy Analysis (2 degrees) and General Dance (1 degrees).

In 2021, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Bennington College, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are English (57 degrees awarded), Visual & Performing Arts (96 degrees), and Language & Linguistics (19 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Bennington College are Elementary & middle school teachers (216,439 people), Other managers (167,144 people), Postsecondary teachers (153,672 people), Secondary school teachers (123,056 people), and Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (107,728 people).

The most specialized majors at Bennington College in 2021 are English (57 degrees awarded), Visual & Performing Arts (96 degrees), Language & Linguistics (19 degrees), Communication Technologies (5 degrees), and Natural Resources & Conservation (8 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Bennington College are Surgeons, Physicians, Nurse anesthetists, Sales engineers, and Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

The most specialized majors at Bennington College are English (57 degrees awarded), Visual & Performing Arts (96 degrees), Language & Linguistics (19 degrees), Communication Technologies (5 degrees), and Natural Resources & Conservation (8 degrees) (as of 2021).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Bennington College are Elementary & secondary schools (468,447 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (312,901 people), Computer Systems Design (142,074 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (108,716 people), and Legal services (101,462 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Bennington College.

Most Common (2021)

General Visual & Performing Arts
33 degree-majors awarded
General Drama & Theater Arts
20 degree-majors awarded
General Music
16 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Bennington College was General Visual & Performing Arts with 33 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Bennington College according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

197

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 73 degrees were awarded to men at Bennington College, which is 0.371 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (197).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Bennington College by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 9 degrees were awarded to men at Bennington College in General Music, which is 1.29 times more than the 7 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 33 degrees were awarded to men at Bennington College in Other English Language & Literature, which is 4.71 times more than the 7 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

66%

100% Completion Time

76%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 66% of students graduating from Bennington College completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 76% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 78% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Baccalaureate Colleges Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Male

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Bennington College is Male and Asian (100% graduation rate). Across all Baccalaureate Colleges, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 5.52% of graduates (8 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
168 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
28 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
5 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Bennington College is white (168 degrees awarded). There were 6 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (28 degrees).

3.33% of degree recipients (9 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Female
119 degrees awarded
White Male
49 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
20 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Bennington College is white female (119 degrees awarded). There were 2.43 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (49 degrees).

Operations

Bennington College has an endowment valued at nearly $40.2M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 7.31M (18.2%) compared to the 17.4% average return (9.13M on 52.4M) across all Baccalaureate Colleges.

In 2021, Bennington College had a total salary expenditure of 43.2M. Bennington College employs 60 No academic ranks. Most academics at Bennington College are Female No academic rank (31), and Male No academic rank (29).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Bennington College are: Service, with 39 employees, Management, with 36 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 34 employees.

Endowment

$40.2M

2021 Endowment

20.4%

decline from 2020

Bennington College has an endowment valued at about $40.2M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Bennington College declined 20.4% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $12.2M lower than than the median endowment of Baccalaureate Colleges according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Bennington College (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$20M

2021 Salaries

3.19%

decline from 2020

In 2021, Bennington College paid a median of $20M in salaries, which represents 46.3% of their overall expenditure ($43.2M) and a 3.19% decline from the previous year.

The median for similar Baccalaureate Colleges is 15.1M (38.9% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$5.35M

Instructional Salaries

Number of Employees

In 2021, Bennington College paid a total of $5.35M to 60 employees working as instructors, which represents 26.7% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.92M (32.5%) for similar Baccalaureate Colleges.

Occupations by Share

No academic rank

Most Common Instructor

60 Employees

Service

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

39 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Bennington College was No academic rank with 60 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Bennington College were Service with 39 employees, Management with 36 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 34 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Female No academic rank
Male No academic rank

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Bennington College was Female No academic rank with 31 employees, and Male No academic rank with 29 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Bennington College.