Bentley University

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Quick Stats
175 Forest Street

Waltham, MA 02452-4705

[map]
Phone: (781) 891-2000
2011-2012 Tuition
$38,328
tuition and fees
Students
4,262
enrolled
59%
male /
41%
female
Admissions
Jan. 15
application deadline
46.5%
accepted

More Information

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U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category
U.S. News rank Category Name
#6 Regional Universities (North)

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Summary

Bentley University is a private institution that was founded in 1917. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,262, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 163 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Bentley University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities (North), 6. Its tuition and fees are $38,328 (2011-12).

School mission (as provided by the school):

Bentley University is a national leader in business education. Centered on education and research in business and related professions, Bentley blends the breadth and technological strength of a university with the values and student focus of a small college. A Bentley education is an unparalleled fusion of business and the arts and sciences that allows students to truly customize their learning, including a unique Liberal Studies double major program. Bentley also stresses the benefits of hands-on learning through internships, service learning, study abroad and corporate partnerships. Each year, more than 90 percent of Bentley students complete at least one internship. The Bentley Service-Learning program is ranked among the top programs of its kind in the United States and adds a distinctive, thoughtful dimension to business education. Bentley students study abroad in more than 26 countries in programs that vary in length from one week to a full academic year. Through our corporate partnerships, Bentley students get the opportunity to practice their knowledge while at the same time giving our corporate partners fresh insights into business challenges. Our corporate partners work closely with students allowing them to gain firsthand experience working with an actual company and the chance to network with professionals. The Five-Year Master's Candidate program enables students to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and either a Bentley MBA Program or Master of Science (MS) degree. In 2011, Bentley was ranked #6 in the nation by Princeton Review for Best Career Services. The Miller Center for Career Services (CSS) offers resources that include an on-campus recruiting program involving 1,000 national and international companies; career fairs; and a variety of workshops. In addition, each student can develop a customized four-year development plan, an asset that contributes to our extraordinary placement rates. In 2010, 99 percent of Bentley students found employment or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation. Their median annual salary was over $50,000. One reason for such success is a curriculum supported by hands-on, state-of-the-art high-tech learning labs, including a financial Trading Room, a marketing research and technology center, an electronic learning center dedicated to accounting and business management; a language lab that is also a repository for information on global cultures and issues; a media center with the latest in hardware and software for video production and editing, as well as digital photography; and a usability laboratory that especially focused on digital and web functionality. Finally, with its exceptional technological resources and access to online databases and information resources, the Bentley Library was ranked #14 by the Princeton Review. Approximately 98 percent of freshmen live on campus. Housing includes 23 residence halls, including traditional dorms, suites and apartments. Housing is provided to students for all four years. All residence halls are air-conditioned and typically include study lounges, exercise facilities, TV lounges, and game rooms. In 2011, Princeton Review ranked Bentley #18 for Dorms Like Palaces. Students live and learn in a multicultural environment that reflects and prepares them to thrive in today's diverse work world. International students representing more than 80 countries are part of the Bentley community. Supporting our commitment to diversity are offices such as the Multicultural Center, Spiritual Life Center, Center for International Students and Scholars, and the Women's Center. Extensive athletic programs are a Bentley hallmark with intramurals, recreational sports, and 23 varsity teams in NCAA Divisions I and II. Boston and Cambridge, just minutes from campus, are accessible via the school's free shuttle. Both cities provide rich resources for internships, job opportunities, cultural events and social life.

General Information

School type private, coed college
Year founded 1917
Religious affiliation N/A
Academic calendar semester
Setting suburban
2010 Endowment $173,562,000

Applying

When applying to Bentley University, it's important to note the application deadline is January 15, and the early action deadline and the early decision deadline are November 15 and November 1, respectively. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 15. The application fee at Bentley University is $50. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 46.5 percent and an early acceptance rate of 61.9 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity more selective
Fall 2010 acceptance rate 46%
Application deadline January 15
SAT/ACT scores must be received by January 15

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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at Bentley University is 14:1, and the school has 28.4 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Bentley University include: Marketing/Marketing Management, General; Accounting; Accounting and Related Services, Other; Finance, General; and Business Administration and Management, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 92.8 percent.

Class sizes
Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio 14:1
4-year graduation rate 79% - High
Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates
Marketing/Marketing Management, General 16%
Accounting 15%
Accounting and Related Services, Other 15%
Finance, General 15%
Business Administration and Management, General 14%

More About Academic Life

Student Life

Bentley University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,262, with a gender distribution of 59.1 percent male students and 40.9 percent female students. 79.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 21.0 percent of students live off campus. Bentley University is part of the NCAA II athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at Bentley University.

Total enrollment 5,695
Student gender distribution
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Collegiate athletic association NCAA II

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Campus Info & Services

Bentley University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Bentley University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Bentley University, 82 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Bentley University.

Students who have cars on campus 82% - Medium
Health insurance offered Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer Yes

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Paying for School

At Bentley University, 49.1 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $25,296.

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

Tuition and fees $38,328 (2011-12)
Room and board $12,520 (2011-12) - High
Financial aid statistics
Financial aid statistics

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Student Reviews

The best thing about Bentley is its size. A lot of people (including myself) were afraid to attend a school that was too small. If it was too small, you would get bored too quickly, you'd meet just about everyone in the first year, it would feel like high school, etc. Bentley is roughly 4,000-5,000 undergrad. I don't feel like I have even come close to meeting half of the students in my class after 3 years. It is big enough to have a lot of fun at, yet small enough to get VERY individual attention, have small classes, and can provide resources for all of its students. We also have a "trading room" that is unmatched by ANY school in the WORLD. Better than what can be seen at Harvard Business School, Wharton (at UPenn), MIT, Columbia Business School, or any "top-notch" business school in the country. We have all of the financial software and tools used at top financial institutions across the globe. When I showed up for my first day of work at Morgan Stanley I knew how to use their software better than 25-year industry veterans. Following the theme of business technology, we also have the Center for Marketing Technology and the "ACELAB" (Accounting Center for Electronic Learning and Business, basically an accounting software room). There is no software you will be unfamiliar with after leaving Bentley. I can't truly comment on either of these as I am a finance major, and the experience I've had with both is limited at best.

The Man Junior

Business school that tends to favor financial sector and accounting, they have good ties with the big four

Anonymous Freshman

Bentley is truly a business school--do not expect to get more out of it. Having just finished my first semester, I can say I felt more like what I imagine an MBA program would have been like than a liberal arts undergrad curriculum. For many, the strong business focus is exactly what they want, but those who aren't committed to business may find that the scene gets old quickly. Nearly everything has a business focus, from the course selection to extracurricular events (many of which include Big Four recruiters). There are some other options, like the Liberal Studies Major, which is a great addition to the business curriculum, but for those who really want to try and get away from the business world Benltey thrusts you into, this won't be enough.

Anonymous Freshman

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* Overview details based on 2010 data

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