Affordability and Value
Affordable
Bennington is committed to putting an education within the reach of students with financial need. The financial aid application is actually a conversation and we are here to help you get the education you deserve. 98% of students receive some form of financial assistance—77% receive need-based financial aid with an average award of $54,636 and 22% receive merit-based aid, with an average award of $25,005.
All data as of academic year ’22-’23 unless otherwise indicated.
98% of students receive financial assistance.
In 2022-2023, Bennington College awarded more than $32 million in Bennington scholarships and grants to 740 students.
Bennington tuition, fees, room and board totals around $83,284.
Total Aid Package with Bennington Aid, Grants, Loans, and Work
Please note: this data represents only students who file a FAFSA and does not include international students.
| Domestic Income Level | Avg. Bennington Scholarships and Grants | Avg. Total Financial Aid Package* |
|---|---|---|
| $0–50,000 | $50,892 | $68,214 |
| $50,001–100,000 | $52,595 | $63,730 |
| $100,001–150,000 | $44,675 | $58,250 |
| $150,001–200,000 | $39,122 | $48,870 |
| $200,001–300,000 | $32,548 | $43,804 |
| $300,001+ | $32,307 | $43,491 |
*includes grants, scholarships, loans, and work study
Accessible
98% Receive Aid
Our Financial Aid team is committed to helping Bennington students afford their college education.
19% are Pell-Eligible
19% of our undergraduate students are Pell Eligible. (Data as of Fall 2022)
13% are First-Gen
13% of the undergraduate population at Bennington are the first in their families to attend a four-year college. (Data as of Fall 2022)
23% Are Domestic Students of Color
Data as of Fall 2022
55% Hold On-Campus Jobs
Employable
Bennington College graduates land on their feet financially. On average, Bennington graduates leave with less debt than other graduates from private colleges, and their low default rate—only 2%, as compared to 7.3% nationally—shows that Bennington graduates are prepared to manage their financial obligations and are employable.
Within one year of graduation, 93% of Bennington graduates* are employed or pursuing continuing education, and these careers involve meaningful work in their desired fields. 77% of Bennington graduates* report that they feel engaged at work: more than double the national average of 39%. No pencil-pushing, paper shuffling, or coffee fetching here!
*data as of a 2019 survey
Learn more about:
Apply Now!
Visit our Apply page to get started. Admissions applications begin in August for the following fall term.
FAFSA and Financial Aid Application
Due to major changes as the result of the FAFSA Simplification Act, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid is delaying the release of the 2024-2025 FAFSA until December 2023, two months after the usual October 1 release.
While the 2024-2025 FAFSA won’t be available until December, you can still prepare by doing the following:
- Create an account (FSA ID), if you don’t already have one, on the Federal Student Aid website and assist contributors, such as your parent(s) or spouse, in creating their FSA IDs.
- Try the Federal Student Aid Estimator (updates coming soon) to get a sense of your expected family contribution.
See more details and how to apply on our applying for financial aid page.
Don’t assume you aren’t eligible for financial aid. Everyone should apply!
For Domestic Students
For International Students
The Bennington College Application for International Student Financial Aid is the only form needed to apply for financial aid at Bennington College as an international student. You can access this form via your online applicant portal, which will be available to you after you have submitted the Common Application or the Dimensional Application.
As of the 2021-2022 academic year, the CSS Profile is no longer needed to apply for need-based financial aid at Bennington College.
