- Acceptance rate: 45% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 630–700 reading and writing, 650–730 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 28–31 composite
- Average net price: $43,858 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
Don't know your GPA? Online GPA calculator
Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Bentley University reported: an acceptance rate of 45% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 28–31.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Bentley University reviews each application.
Bentley University GPA requirements
Bentley University doesn't require a high school GPA from first-year applicants but considers one if it's submitted, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Bentley University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Bentley University acceptance rate
Bentley University admitted 4,961 of 11,012 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 45%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Bentley University is a private nonprofit 4-year university in Waltham, Massachusetts, with 4,526 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Bentley University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 630 | 660 | 700 |
| SAT Math | 650 | 690 | 730 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 30 | 31 |
| ACT English | 29 | 32 | 34 |
| ACT Math | 25 | 27 | 32 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1352 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Bentley University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
AP credit
Bentley University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $43,858 a year at Bentley University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How selective is Bentley University?
Selective: fewer than half of applicants got in. Bentley University admitted 45% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What GPA do you need to get into Bentley University?
Bentley University doesn't require a high school GPA but considers one if submitted, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
What are Bentley University's SAT and ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of Bentley University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 630–700 in reading and writing and 650–730 in math; ACT composite 28–31, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
What is Bentley University's acceptance rate?
Bentley University's acceptance rate was 45% for fall 2024: it admitted 4,961 of 11,012 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.
Can I get into Bentley University with a 3.0 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Bentley University admitted 45% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It considers a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
How much does GPA matter at Bentley University?
It's one factor among several: Bentley University requires high school record, college preparatory program, recommendations and essay or personal statement. It considers high school GPA, test scores, work experience and legacy status if you send them. It doesn't consider high school class rank, other tests and demonstration of competencies. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to Bentley University?
Check Bentley University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Bentley University was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 19% sent SAT scores and 2% sent ACT scores.
Does Bentley University look at legacy status?
Yes. Bentley University considers whether a parent or other relative attended, though it isn't required, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What is the average net price at Bentley University?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $43,858 a year at Bentley University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at Bentley University?
Yes. Bentley University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Before you apply, check Bentley University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Bentley UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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