Bennington College Acceptance Rate
Bennington, Vermont · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 2,825
- Admitted
- 1,357
- Yield
- 15.9%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Bennington College's acceptance rate has fallen from 67.2% in 2014–15 to 48% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 1,101 to 2,825 (+157%) over that period.
Its 48% rate makes Bennington College more selective than about 85% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 9 tracked Vermont schools, it is more selective than about 78%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (58.5% for women vs 29.9% for men, a 28.6-point gap). Bennington College has been test-optional since 2022–23. Of admitted students, 15.9% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 1,101 | 740 | 67.2% | 192 |
| 2015–16 | 1,099 | 693 | 63.1% | 215 |
| 2016–17 | 1,236 | 741 | 60% | 216 |
| 2017–18 | 1,465 | 829 | 56.6% | 225 |
| 2018–19 | 1,494 | 852 | 57% | 202 |
| 2019–20 | 1,344 | 817 | 60.8% | 179 |
| 2020–21 | 1,382 | 829 | 60% | 141 |
| 2021–22 | 1,726 | 1,155 | 66.9% | 249 |
| 2022–23 | 2,801 | 1,269 | 45.3% | 220 |
| 2023–24 | 2,825 | 1,357 | 48% | 216 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 1,793 | 1,049 | 58.5% |
| Men | 1,031 | 308 | 29.9% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 690–740 | 17% |
| SAT Math | 600–673 | |
| ACT Composite | 30–32 | 6% |
How Bennington College compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Bennington College's acceptance rate?
Bennington College's acceptance rate is 48% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (1,357 admitted of 2,825 applicants).
Is Bennington College test optional?
Bennington College is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Bennington College?
Bennington College received 2,825 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 1,357.
What SAT score do you need for Bennington College?
Admitted students at Bennington College typically scored 690–740 on SAT Reading/Writing and 600–673 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Bennington College getting harder to get into?
Bennington College has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 67.2% in 2014–15 to 48% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.bennington.edu/.