Defining Success
Find yourself where creativity meets purpose.
At Bennington, a close-knit liberal arts college in Vermont, student success is defined in three ways: bold ideas, hard work, and positive impact.
For nearly a century, Bennington has placed students at the center of their education. Students learn in small, engaged classes, work across disciplines, and connect their studies to the world beyond campus. This experience prepares graduates to take initiative, navigate uncertainty, and carry their ideas forward to completion. As a result, our graduates tend to stand out.
Our student-centric approach is also reflected in our college rankings, which consistently point to strong teaching, a close community, and a safe and inclusive campus where meaningful work happens.
“People always say to me: ‘For such a small school, it seems like there are so many of you.’ I find that really interesting, and I kind of think that’s perfect. We can’t help it; we burn very brightly”
- Peter Dinklage ’91
Rankings
The Princeton Review surveys students, not administrators or algorithms, to find out what’s real on campus. These rankings are based on student feedback about teaching, campus life, and community.
Bennington stands out where it matters most:
| #3 Most Beautiful Campus | #5 Top 50 Green Colleges |
| #3 Most Politically Active Students | #11 Best Classroom Experience |
| #3 Best College Theater | #16 Best College Dorms |
| #5 LGBTQ-Friendly | #21 Best College Radio Station |
Additional Recognitions
- #30 Nationwide for Producers of PhDs in English (a testament to the strength of our writing programs across bachelor’s and graduate levels). National Science Foundation’s Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) (2025)
- Among Forbes’ Top 25 Private Colleges That Offer Generous Financial Aid
Forbes (2024) - #43 for strong economic diversity among its students, The New York Times College-Access Index (2023)
Results That Matter
Bennington graduates know how to navigate the world without a roadmap or a template, and that’s by design. This is evident in the outsized impact of Bennington alumni across the arts, sciences, public life, and culture.
Some of our alumni accomplishments include:
- Two winners of the Pulitzer Prize in Literature
- Four MacArthur Fellows
- Emmy, Obie, and Bessie award winners
- Youngest recipient of the Man Booker Prize
It also leads to strong, measurable outcomes:
- 100% of our graduates are fully employed two to five years after graduation
- 84% report working in roles related to their Bennington studies (much higher than the national average)
- 98% are praised by employers for creativity and innovation (vs. the national average of 25%)
- Average starting salaries of $61k in arts and humanities fields, and $71k in STEM
- Nearly 40% enroll in graduate or professional programs, including Yale, Penn, Columbia, and Cornell, NYU Tisch, and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop
Most popular careers for our graduates include business, media, design, the arts (of course), and education. Many others go on to become bestselling authors, leaders in cultural institutions, entertainment executives, and faculty at leading colleges and universities.
“Great literature faculty members [at Bennington] expanded what I was reading... and the possibilities of what kind of poet I could be. That really gave me the tools to begin writing the poems that set me on my way publishing my first book.”
- Safiya Sinclair ’10, Author of the memoir How to Say Babylon, a National Book Critics Circle Award Winner and one of the most notable books of the year according to The New York Times, the Washington Post, The Atlantic, and TIME magazine
Education in Action
While many colleges offer internships, Bennington is the only college in the country with a guaranteed annual internship program built into the academic calendar.
Through our distinctive Field Work Term (FWT), undergraduates spend six weeks each year gaining real-world experience that builds confidence, professional experience and skills, and a strong foundation for future careers or graduate study. Explore more about career development and FWT at Bennington.
Recent FWT placements include:
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“We get to do a lot of things in practice, rather than just sitting in a classroom and learning. I really value that practical approach.”
- Lorena Fernández Camba ’25, who studied Architecture, Directing, and Set Design
Graduate Degree Programs
Bennington offers graduate degree programs in writing, clinical mental health counseling, public action, and the arts. These programs extend Bennington’s individualized, practice-driven model into advanced study.
Graduate students work closely with faculty members while engaging in professional practice through writing mentorship, clinical placements, residencies, assistantships, research collaborations, and community-engaged projects. The result is rigorous preparation for leadership, creative practice, doctoral study, and public-facing work.
Affordability
We know college is a major investment. We work hard to support students and their families to make a Bennington education possible.
Ninety-five percent of Bennington students receive financial aid, including nearly two-thirds of undergraduates who qualify for need-based aid. Graduates leave with an average student loan debt of $22,698.
Our financial aid team partners with families throughout the process to provide clarity, guidance, and support.
Learn more: