Bentley vs. F&M

Deciding between Bentley University and Franklin and Marshall College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Bentley University
Franklin and Marshall College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bentley Waltham, MA
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • Setting
  • Bentley Small City
  • F&M Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bentley 5,333
  • F&M 1,808
  • Type
  • Bentley Private 4 Year
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bentley #107
  • F&M #60
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bentley -
  • F&M -
  • Status
  • Bentley Non-profit
  • F&M Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bentley
  • F&M

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • F&M $70,794
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • F&M $70,794
  • Room & Board
  • Bentley $20,140
  • F&M $16,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Bentley $45,802
  • F&M $43,987
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bentley $33,673
  • F&M $41,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bentley 88%
  • F&M 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bentley 11,012
  • F&M 9,881
  • Admitted
  • Bentley 4,961
  • F&M 2,785
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bentley 45.1%
  • F&M 28.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Bentley 21.3%
  • F&M 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bentley 1360
  • F&M 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bentley 29
  • F&M 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bentley 3.75
  • F&M -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bentley A-
  • F&M -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bentley Very High
  • F&M Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bentley Low
  • F&M High
  • ACT Range
  • Bentley 28/31
  • F&M 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Bentley 1280/1430
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bentley Test optional
  • F&M Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bentley Jan 15, 2027
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bentley 12:1
  • F&M 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bentley
    • Business (83%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
    • Mathematics (1%)
    • General Studies (1%)
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bentley 88%
  • F&M 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bentley $87,200
  • F&M $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bentley 92%
  • F&M 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bentley $26,500
  • F&M $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bentley $274
  • F&M $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bentley 59%
  • F&M 49%
  • % Women
  • Bentley 41%
  • F&M 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bentley Medium
  • F&M High
  • HBCU
  • Bentley No
  • F&M No
  • % White
  • Bentley 62%
  • F&M 59%
  • % Asian
  • Bentley 8%
  • F&M 5%
  • % Black
  • Bentley 3%
  • F&M 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bentley 7%
  • F&M 8%
  • % Native American
  • Bentley 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bentley 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bentley 2%
  • F&M 2%
  • % International
  • Bentley 14%
  • F&M 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bentley 3%
  • F&M 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bentley 39%
  • F&M 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bentley 44%
  • F&M 55%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Bentley Yes
  • F&M Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Bentley No
  • F&M No
  • Meal Plan
  • Bentley Yes
  • F&M Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Bentley Yes
  • F&M No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Bentley No
  • F&M No

Comparable Facts

Compare Bentley University in Waltham, MA with Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bentley University is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (5,333 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bentley University is located in Waltham, MA (Small City setting); Franklin and Marshall College is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
  • Bentley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bentley University 12:1; Franklin and Marshall College 9:1.

Bentley vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bentley or F&M? 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 Franklin and Marshall College than Bentley ($43,987 vs. $45,802).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 19.6% lower than at Bentley University ($16,188 vs. $20,140).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 16.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bentley (about $9,794 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $61,000.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.1% higher at F&M than at Bentley University (about $9,794 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $61,000.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bentley University than at Franklin and Marshall College (88% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 24.4% larger than aid received by Bentley University students ($41,901 vs. $33,673).

Bentley vs. F&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bentley or F&M? 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 F&M and Bentley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franklin and Marshall College (1390) is 30 points higher than at Bentley (1360).
  • Incoming F&M students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at Bentley).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bentley University 1280/1430; Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bentley University 28/31; Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bentley - Test optional; F&M - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bentley Jan 15, 2027; F&M Jan 15, 2027.
  • Bentley has a higher acceptance rate (45.1%) than F&M (28.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.3% at Bentley vs. 17.1% at F&M.

Bentley vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bentley and F&M? 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).

  • Bentley University's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Franklin and Marshall College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Bentley University earn a median of about $25,300 more per year than F&M graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,200 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin and Marshall College graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Bentley graduates ($22,000 vs. $26,500).
  • Among borrowers, F&M graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bentley graduates ($227 vs. $274).
  • More Bentley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former F&M students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 88%)

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.