Students at Bentley University achieve some of the strongest financial outcomes in higher education, with graduates earning far more than similar students at other institutions nationwide.
The university's specialized business focus and industry connections translate into exceptional long-term earnings that place it among the very best institutions for return on investment.
Bentley University delivers some of the strongest financial outcomes among all private universities nationwide, ranking in the top 0.5% for long-term earnings after graduation. What makes Bentley distinctive is its laser focus on business education combined with exceptional career preparation that translates directly into high-paying jobs. Graduates earn a median of $120,959 ten years after enrollment, with earnings that exceed expectations by more than $26,000 compared with similar students at other institutions.
As a specialized business university in Waltham, Massachusetts, Bentley serves a selective student body where only about 15% receive Pell Grants and 16% are first-generation college students. This selectivity, combined with the university's deep industry connections and career-focused curriculum, creates an environment where nearly 89% of students graduate within six years and move directly into well-paying business roles.
The university's strength lies in its concentrated expertise in business fields like finance, accounting, and actuarial science, where employer relationships run deep and starting salaries are consistently strong. For families who can manage the higher costs, Bentley represents one of the clearest paths to business career success, with graduates routinely outearning peers from much larger and more prestigious institutions.
Bentley University's program portfolio reflects its specialized mission as a business-focused institution, with concentrated strength in fields that lead directly to high-paying careers. Banking and Financial Support Services stands out as the highest aggregate-return major, combining substantial enrollment of 243 graduates with solid median earnings of $64,253, making it a key economic driver for the university. Accounting programs graduate the largest cohort at 216 students with earnings around $62,388, demonstrating Bentley's traditional strength in this foundational business field.
Actuarial Science delivers the highest individual earnings at $79,653 for its 32 graduates, reflecting the specialized, quantitative nature of this field and Bentley's reputation among insurance and financial services employers. Even Business Administration, typically a more general field, produces graduates earning $53,699 early in their careers with strong potential for advancement as they move into management roles.
The university's concentrated focus on business disciplines creates deep employer relationships and specialized career services that help explain why graduates across all programs consistently outperform earnings expectations. With strong industry connections in Boston's financial district and beyond, Bentley's relatively small program scale allows for intensive career preparation and networking opportunities that translate directly into premium job placements and accelerated salary growth.
Bentley University graduates achieve exceptional long-term financial outcomes that place the institution among the very best in the country for earnings after college. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $120,959, ranking in the top 0.5% nationally. Even more impressive, Bentley graduates earn about $26,000 more than similar students at other institutions, demonstrating the university's ability to deliver earnings beyond expectations that few schools can match.
The university's program portfolio drives these outstanding results through concentrated strength in high-return business fields. Banking and Financial Support Services, the highest aggregate-return major, graduates 243 students annually with median earnings of $64,253, creating substantial economic impact. Accounting programs graduate 216 students with earnings around $62,388, while Actuarial Science delivers the highest individual earnings at $79,653 for its 32 graduates. Even Business Administration, typically a more moderate-earning field, produces graduates earning $53,699 early in their careers with strong upward trajectory potential.
Bentley's specialized focus on business education, combined with extensive industry partnerships and career services, helps explain why graduates consistently outperform earnings expectations by such wide margins. The university's location near Boston provides access to major financial centers, consulting firms, and corporate headquarters where Bentley's reputation opens doors that lead to accelerated career advancement and premium compensation packages.
Bentley University operates at the higher end of the private university cost spectrum, with net prices that reflect its specialized business focus and selective positioning. Low-income students pay about $24,239 annually, while middle-income families see costs around $25,331, and high-income families pay approximately $49,750. These prices place Bentley in the bottom 7.5% nationally for affordability, meaning most families will find it more expensive than typical private institutions.
The university's cost structure reflects its business school model, where smaller class sizes, extensive career services, and industry partnerships require significant investment. However, families who can manage these upfront costs often see strong returns through graduates' exceptional earning potential. The financial aid approach tends to provide meaningful support for lower-income students who are admitted, though the overall student body skews toward families with higher financial capacity.
Debt levels align with the university's premium positioning. Typical graduates leave with about $25,023 in federal student loan debt, while families often supplement with Parent PLUS loans averaging $40,572. Given Bentley's median graduate earnings of nearly $121,000 ten years out, most borrowers can handle standard repayment comfortably, though the higher debt levels require careful family financial planning upfront.
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Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
