Bennington College

Private · Selective · VT

Photo: Naj-Coatl (English Wikipedia) (Public Domain)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationVT · Northeast

SettingRural

Undergrads780

Student:faculty9:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate60.6%

6-yr grad rate71.2%

Drop-out rate18%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$66k

Out-of-state tuition$66k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity35.5%

Gender diversity73.5%

International11.8%

Identity—

Overview

Bennington College in Vermont, founded in 1932 as a women's college before going coeducational decades later, has no conventional majors: students design and continually defend their own course of study, called a Plan, making the entire academic model self-directed rather than department-organized. Its arts and writing legacy is genuinely notable — the campus produced a famous early-1980s literary cohort whose members went on to define a generation of American fiction.

Academics

Every winter, the required Field Work Term sends students out of the classroom and into real jobs and internships, tying academic work to lived professional experience in a way few colleges build directly into the calendar. The absence of departments means faculty mentorship is unusually close and individualized, since a student's Plan has to be built and defended one-on-one rather than checked against a standard requirements list.

Campus & student life

The campus is an end-of-the-road hilltop centered on a converted-barn building, giving it an isolated, artistically intense atmosphere distinct from a typical New England liberal arts quad. Students live in small residential Houses rather than large dormitories, each with its own character and informal faculty ties, which reinforces the close, mentorship-heavy feel of the academics.

Getting in

Applications emphasize self-motivation and a genuine capacity for self-directed study, since the Plan system asks students to design and defend their own curriculum from early on — essays and demonstrated independence matter more than a standard transcript read. Interviews often probe whether an applicant actually wants that much freedom, since it overwhelms some students rather than liberating them.

After graduation

Graduates lean heavily into the arts, writing, and other creative or self-directed fields, and the alumni network carries real weight in literary and artistic circles specifically — its writing alumni in particular are cited disproportionately often relative to the college's small size.

Worth knowing

The absence of majors and the mandatory Field Work Term make Bennington a poor fit for students who want structured, pre-set degree requirements, and a strong one for students who want to build their own path. Its small size and isolated setting mean the intensity cuts both ways — deep mentorship and creative freedom, but little of the anonymity or scale a larger college offers.

bennington.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate44.5%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1291–1403 · ACT 30–32

Test policyoptional

Rec letters3

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Early actionNov 1

Early decisionNov 1

Regular decisionJan 10

Verified from the school’s admissions page ↗

Applying (2026-27 cycle)

Apply through Common App or Coalition (Scoir).

Early Decision I is binding, Early Action and Regular Decision are not, and Bennington does not currently offer a second-round Early Decision.

Interviews: Interviews are optional and can be requested; Regular Decision applicants are asked to request one by February 1.

Verified from the school’s admissions pages ↗