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How to Get Into Bennington College

Bennington, VT · Private nonprofit · 2025-2026 cycle · Verified data

Bennington College Admissions Statistics

45%
Acceptance Rate
703-750
SAT Reading (mid 50%)
588-653
SAT Math (mid 50%)
30-32
ACT (mid 50%)
780
Undergrads
71%
Graduation Rate

How to Actually Get Into Bennington College

The bar here is clear

Bennington College admits most qualified applicants. Clear the academic bar (the ranges below) and your odds are strong. The real questions become fit, cost, and whether it earns its slot on your list, not whether you can get in.

Position your scores against the real bands

The middle 50% of enrolled students sits around 1291-1403 combined SAT or 30-32 ACT. Above the 75th percentile, scores work for you and this can behave like a target. Below the 25th percentile, the rest of your application has to carry the file, treat it as a reach. Since scores are not required (test-optional) here, submit only if you're inside or above the band; a below-band score is information you don't have to volunteer.

Use the Early Decision round deliberately

Bennington College offers Early Decision, which is binding. The early bump is real but overstated (hooked applicants cluster early and inflate it). Spend ED once, on the school where it actually moves you a tier, and only if the money works without comparing aid offers. If that school is Bennington College, the deadline table below is your calendar.

The bigger picture: no single school decides your outcome, the shape of your whole list does. Read how top counselors build a college list before you finalize where Bennington College fits.

Bennington College Application Deadlines (2025-2026)

Round Deadline
Early Action (EA) November 1, 2025
Early Decision (ED) November 1, 2025
Early Decision II (ED II) January 10, 2026
Regular Decision (RD) April 7, 2026

Deadlines verified from official sources for the 2025-2026 cycle. Rounds change year to year, always confirm on the school's site before submitting.

Application Requirements & Costs

Application platform Common App
Application fee $0
Test scores Not required (test-optional)
Writing supplement Not required
Counselor recommendation Required
Teacher evaluations 2

Bennington College Cost & Financial Aid

Total cost of attendance (sticker, per year) $87,284
Tuition & fees $66,262
Room & board (on campus) $19,108
Average net price (aid-receiving families) $30,947

What You'd Actually Pay, by Family Income

Average net price per year (after grants and scholarships) for aid-receiving families, from federal College Scorecard data:

Family income Average net price / year
$0-30k $18,480
$30-48k $18,012
$48-75k $22,336
$75-110k $25,508
$110k+ $44,625
25%
Students receiving Pell Grants
50%
Students taking federal loans
82%
Freshman retention rate
9:1
Student-faculty ratio

These are averages, not your number. Get your family's actual price in about 10 minutes:

Use Bennington College's Official Net Price Calculator →

More Bennington College Data, Coming Soon

We're building the deepest per-school database in admissions. Rolling out for Bennington College:

Programs & Majors Soon Every degree program at Bennington College, with outcomes
Transfer Pathways Soon How to transfer into Bennington College, and where transfers come from
Institutional Aid Soon Bennington College's own grants and how they're awarded
Private Scholarships Soon Outside scholarships Bennington College students actually win

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