Defining Success
Find yourself where curiosity meets purpose.
At Bennington, success is measured by impact, engagement, and long-term fulfillment—not just earning a paycheck. Our graduates build their lives and careers defined by purpose, intellectual rigor, creative expression, nonconformity, and meaningful contributions. These paths are intentional, and the outcomes are real.
Bennington graduates are deeply engaged in their work and love what they do.
- 83% of our graduates indicated they were satisfied with their career pursuits
- 81% find their work engaging
- That compares to:
- 57% satisfaction rate among people under 25
- 31% rate of engagement among college grads and non-grads
And our graduates are good at their work, too. Bennington graduates outrank their peers from other colleges for communication, critical thinking, and professionalism by 40% according to a 2025 survey of Field Work Term employers. These skills not only set our graduates apart, but also translate across careers.
A Community of Outsized Impact
Bennington’s alumni community includes writers, artists, filmmakers, scholars and innovators such as Donna Tartt, Safiya Sinclair, Michael Pollan, Peter Dinklage, and Kiran Desai, alongside Pulitzer and Emmy winners, poets laureate, Guggenheim fellows, and MacArthur Fellows.
These outcomes are not accidental nor uncommon. Bennington alumni are known for their outsized impact and the scale of their influence relative to the size of the institution.
Advanced Study and Intellectual Leadership
Many Bennington graduates choose to pursue advanced study, often delaying immediate income for long-term professional or intellectual opportunities.
In fact, while Bennington has fewer students than most schools, we are #30 nationwide for producing graduates who go on to obtain PhDs in English, as measured by the National Science Foundation’s Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED).
Graduate stipends, fellowships, and academic appointments are not fully reflected in traditional earnings data immediately post-graduation. Yet it represents meaningful investment in future leadership, intellectual pursuit, and long-term career satisfaction.
Bennington Graduates Build Their Careers Intentionally
Many Bennington graduates choose nontraditional paths early in their careers so that they can pursue creative and intellectual work. Meaningful and impactful careers are often built gradually and iteratively, and our graduates are prepared for that reality.
In some cases, this means our graduates may initially pursue freelance or project-based work while they devote focus and rigor to the development of their creative or intellectual work. This is not a lack of direction. It is, however, a deliberate approach to building life-long, purpose-driven careers.
Service and Public Good
Bennington graduates are often drawn to work that serves the public good, including roles in education, non-profits, community-based initiatives, and sustainable development.
They devote their early career to feeding people sustainably, teaching, or supporting the communities in which they live. While these roles are often undervalued by conventional metrics, they make an immeasurable difference in quality of life both for graduates and those around them. These jobs also lead to life-changing experiences, improved insight, and leadership positions with greater earning capacity later on.
Financial Outcomes
Bennington graduates do well financially while making choices aligned with their values. At Bennington, students discover their own voice and their ethical compass.
Bennington graduates have an average starting salary of $61k in arts and humanities fields, and $71k in STEM fields.
Salary outcomes vary by field and career stage, particularly for graduates who pursue creative industries, advanced study, public service, or entrepreneurial paths. Over time, the combination of adaptable skills, professional experience, and purposeful career-building supports growth in both responsibility and earning potential.
Bennington students graduate with less student loan debt than the national average.
- Bennington average: $22,698
- National average: $26,089
A Place Where Independent Thinkers Thrive
Choosing a non-traditional path takes intention—and that’s why Bennington exists. From its founding, Bennington was designed for students who think deeply, question assumptions, resist conformity, and seek an education that prepares them for a complex, ever-changing world.
Here, Bennington students do not navigate this alone. They are supported by close faculty mentorship, a supportive student community, and a curriculum that encourages resilience.
Bennington prepares students not to follow the world as it is, but to shape the world as it becomes.
