Bennington vs. Middlebury

Comparable Facts

Compare Bennington College in Bennington, VT with Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Middlebury College is larger than Bennington based on total student enrollment (2,803 students vs. 927 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bennington College is located in Bennington, VT (Rural Fringe setting); Middlebury College is in Middlebury, VT (Rural Fringe setting).
• Bennington College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Middlebury College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bennington College 9:1; Middlebury College 8:1.

Bennington vs. Middlebury Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bennington or Middlebury? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Middlebury College than Bennington ($26,233 vs. $34,220).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bennington College are 0.7% lower than at Middlebury College ($19,108 vs. $19,250).
• Middlebury College is 2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bennington (about $1,338 more per year; $67,600.00 vs. $66,262.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2% higher at Middlebury than at Bennington College (about $1,338 more per year; $67,600.00 vs. $66,262.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bennington College than at Middlebury College (100% vs. 47%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Middlebury College students is 12.4% larger than aid received by Bennington College students ($59,647 vs. $53,064).

Bennington vs. Middlebury Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bennington or Middlebury? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Middlebury and Bennington.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Middlebury College (1500) is 150 points higher than at Bennington (1350).
• Incoming Middlebury students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Bennington).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bennington College 1291/1403; Middlebury College 1445/1550.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bennington College 30/32; Middlebury College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bennington - Test optional; Middlebury - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bennington Jan 15, 2027; Middlebury Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Middlebury students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Bennington (3.51).
• Bennington has a higher acceptance rate (44.5%) than Middlebury (10.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at Bennington vs. 44.4% at Middlebury.

Bennington vs. Middlebury Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bennington and Middlebury? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Middlebury College's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Bennington College's (67%).
• Graduates from Middlebury College earn a median of about $40,700 more per year than Bennington graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,400 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Middlebury College graduates have a $10,111 lower median loan debt than Bennington graduates ($15,889 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Middlebury graduates have an estimated $104 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bennington graduates ($164 vs. $268).
• More Middlebury graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bennington students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 77%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.