Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Bennington College #1446 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $35,687 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Bennington College in the 1.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Bennington College #1469 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Bennington College #1446 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Bennington, Vermont, Bennington College enrolls roughly 780 undergraduates. The six-year graduation rate is 71.2%, and 25.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Bennington College is distinctive for its concentration in visual and performing arts. The institution's curriculum centers on creative practice and interdisciplinary work, with Visual & Performing Arts forming the core of its academic identity. This program focus shapes both the student experience and the long-term outcomes that follow graduation. Where Bennington College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Bennington College #1469 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $38,899, and earn about $35,687 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Bennington College in the 1.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's ability to prepare students for creative careers that deliver meaningful financial returns relative to comparable institutions.
Bennington College's published cost of attendance is $87,284, but financial aid significantly reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $18,480; middle-income families pay around $22,336; higher-income families pay approximately $44,625. Azimuth ranks Bennington College #1212 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Bennington's aid structure combines need-based institutional aid with federal and state grant programs. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs, and families apply using the FAFSA. Merit scholarships are available for qualified students, and work-study is available as part of the aid package for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $24,023; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $38,899, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Bennington College is a strong fit for students drawn to the visual and performing arts who want a small private college experience in rural Vermont. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $38,899, placing Bennington College in the 1.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $35,687 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 1.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based. For admitted Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 25.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 12.6% are first-generation — that structure can meaningfully close the gap between the published cost and what families actually pay. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 44.5% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors creative fields over STEM or professional ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a distinctive educational experience.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Bennington College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Bennington College's published cost of attendance is $87,284, but financial aid significantly reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $18,480; middle-income families pay around $22,336; higher-income families pay approximately $44,625.
Azimuth ranks Bennington College #1212 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Bennington's aid structure combines need-based institutional aid with federal and state grant programs. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs, and families apply using the FAFSA.
Merit scholarships are available for qualified students, and work-study is available as part of the aid package for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $24,023; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $38,899, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Visual and Performing Arts, General
34 graduates
Music
15 graduates
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
23 graduates
Literature
20 graduates
Bennington College's program mix is anchored in Visual & Performing Arts, reflecting the institution's distinctive identity as a creative and interdisciplinary liberal arts college. Visual and Performing Arts is the largest program with 34 graduates, followed by Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Literature, Music, and Public Policy Analysis.
Across 19 programs serving roughly 213 students annually, the institution's strength concentrates in Arts, which represents 39% of degrees, alongside Social Sciences at 10% and Education at 39%. The highest-earning programs reflect the institution's creative-professional orientation.
Visual and Performing Arts graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $39,958 with 34 graduates, while Music delivers median earnings of $26,241 across 15 graduates. Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft rounds out the top earners with 23 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $23,575.
These outcomes reflect fields where creative training translates directly into professional practice and market demand. Many of Bennington College's programs follow pathways where four-year earnings reflect early-career creative or professional work—fields like visual arts, performing arts, and design where graduates often establish independent practices or enter creative industries immediately.
Others, particularly those in social sciences and humanities, represent grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because meaningful shares of graduates continue to graduate study or professional training. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these creative and professional fields align with national labor-market trends and emerging demand in digital and media-adjacent sectors.
Graduates of Bennington College earn median 4-year earnings of $38,899, placing Bennington College in the 1.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $35,687 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Bennington College in the 1.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Bennington College #1469 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Bennington College's concentration in Visual & Performing Arts.
Visual and Performing Arts is the largest program with 34 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $39,958, at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft follows with 23 graduates earning $23,575, also at 0.6x benchmark.
The Music program graduates 15 students earning median 4-year earnings of $26,241 at 0.6x benchmark. These outcomes correspond to the institution's distinctive curricular model, where students design individualized programs anchored in creative and analytical disciplines that connect directly to career pathways in design, media, performance, and cultural institutions.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
New England College Higher acceptance rate (47.7 percentage points higher) and located 74 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NH | 96% | $42,092 | Compare |
University Of The Arts Higher acceptance rate (30.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 78% | $38,252 | Compare |
Villa Maria College Higher acceptance rate (38.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 87% | $38,857 | Compare |
Magdalen College Same region (76 miles away) with similar earnings; same institution type | NH | 44% | $35,809 | Compare |
New England College Same region (74 miles away) with similar earnings; same institution type | NH | 96% | $42,092 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Warren Wilson College Similar quality tier (#36268 ranked) | NC | 71% | $36,260 | #36268 | Compare |
Columbia International University Similar quality tier (#36264 ranked) | SC | 94% | $38,951 | #36264 | Compare |
Marymount Manhattan College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36260 ranked) | NY | 83% | $49,131 | #36260 | Compare |
Emmanuel University Similar quality tier (#36272 ranked) | GA | 74% | $38,208 | #36272 | Compare |
Ringling College Of Art And Design Similar quality tier (#36259 ranked) | FL | 70% | $43,325 | #36259 | Compare |
