Application Requirements
Applying to Bennington
At Bennington, our goal is to make the application process as easy as possible for students.
We know you are much more than the sum of your application components. We also never want fees or other unnecessary requirements to impede an interested student from applying.
Undergraduate applicants pay no application fee and are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores.
First-Year Application Requirements
If you are a first-year applicant, submit the following materials by the deadline for your application round:
- A Completed Application: Apply through the Common Application or Apply Coalition with Scoir.
- Two Teacher Recommendations: Recommendations should come from teachers in at least two different subject areas, such as English, mathematics, foreign languages, science, and social studies. You may submit additional recommendations from other teachers, mentors, and/or employers. Use the form provided by the Application.
- A School Report and Counselor Evaluation: Submit a school report that includes a secondary school counselor evaluation. Use the form provided by the Application.
- A Personal Statement (600 words or less)
- High School Transcripts
Note: If your transcript is not in English, an official translation should be submitted along with the originals.
Transfer Application Requirements
If you are a transfer applicant, submit the following materials by the deadline for your application round:
- A Completed Application: A completed Transfer Common Application or Apply Coalition with Scoir
- Two Academic Evaluations from college professors
- The Transfer College Report
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended
- High School Transcript(s)
- The Mid-Term Report is optional, but highly recommended, for all applicants who are currently enrolled in college. Completed forms should be emailed directly to the Bennington College Office of Admissions at admissions@bennington.edu. Please note that the admissions committee reserves the right to require this form on a case-by-case basis, if needed for application review.
- English-language proficiency documentation, if required. Learn more about approved forms of demonstrating English proficiency.
Note: If your transcripts aren't in English, an official translation should be submitted along with the originals.
Explore Transferring to Bennington.
Additional Application Requirements and Guidance
- BFA Dance Lab Applicants: In addition to completing the applicable application requirements above, the BFA Dance Lab requires an audition of all applicants. See the BFA Dance Lab program page for additional details.
- International Applicants: Please see Applying as an International Student for more information.
- Graduate Applicants: Application requirements vary by graduate program. Please review the individual program requirements carefully before applying.
Interviews for First-Year and Transfer Applicants
Once we have received your completed first-year or transfer application and all required supporting materials, an Admissions staff member may invite you to an interview if additional information or context would be helpful during our review process. Interviews are offered by invitation only and are conducted by members of the Admissions or Alumni team.
Optional Materials
We encourage, but do not require, the following:
- Supplementary Materials: When we receive your Application, we will email you instructions for accessing your personal application status page, which you can use to upload supplemental materials.
- Video Introduction: Applicants are welcome to record a GLIMPSE video. Glimpse is an opportunity to share a 60-90 second video helping us to get to know you better. For more information about Glimpse, please visit the Glimpse website. Currently, Glimpse is only available for U.S. students attending high school within the United States. For consideration in the Bennington admissions process, Glimpse videos must be submitted by your chosen application deadline.
Testing Policy
Test-Optional
At Bennington, it is entirely your choice whether to submit SAT or ACT scores with your application. If you choose not to share your scores, you will not be penalized in our process. Please read on to learn about our No-Harm Testing policy.
No-Harm Testing
In addition to being test-optional, Bennington has a No-Harm Testing policy when considering SAT or ACT scores in your application. This means that the SAT or ACT scores you submit will only be used in our review if they will positively affect your chance of admission. SAT or ACT scores that might negatively impact an admission decision will not be considered in our review process. This policy applies to all undergraduate applicants—domestic, international, and transfer.
Self-Reported Testing
During the application process, we accept self-reported or official scores for all testing. Please visit your Applicant Status page to upload an unmarked, easy-to-read copy of your scores (via download, email, or screenshot) from the official test score provider. We will also accept scores provided by your high school counselor of record.
Note: If a student is admitted and chooses to matriculate, we will request an official copy of all self-reported scores. Only official scores can be considered for transfer credit requests.
English Language Testing
English language testing is required for international students if both of the following are true:
You attend a school where the main language of instruction is not English
Your first/primary language is not English
In other words, you do not need to submit English testing if you have been enrolled for 3 years (or more) at a school whose primary language of instruction is English, or if you consider English as your first/primary language. For English language testing, we accept TOEFL, IELTS, or DET (Duolingo)—these tests are also covered under our Self-Reported Testing policy.
Bennington's Application Codes
- SAT code: 3080
- ACT code: 4296
- GRE code: 3080
- Common Application code: 3080
- CSS/Profile code: 3080
- TOEFL code: 3080
- FAFSA code: 003682