Bentley vs. Harvard

Deciding between Bentley University and Harvard University? 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
Harvard University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bentley Waltham, MA
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Bentley Small City
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bentley 5,333
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • Bentley Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bentley #107
  • Harvard #4
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bentley -
  • Harvard -
  • Status
  • Bentley Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bentley
  • Harvard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & Board
  • Bentley $20,140
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average Net Price
  • Bentley $45,802
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bentley $33,673
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bentley 88%
  • Harvard 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bentley 11,012
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • Bentley 4,961
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bentley 45.1%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Bentley 21.3%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bentley 1360
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bentley 29
  • Harvard 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bentley 3.75
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bentley A-
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bentley Very High
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bentley Low
  • Harvard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Bentley 28/31
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Bentley 1280/1430
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bentley Test optional
  • Harvard Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Bentley Jan 15, 2027
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bentley 12:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bentley
    • Business (83%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
    • Mathematics (1%)
    • General Studies (1%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bentley 88%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bentley $87,200
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bentley 92%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bentley $26,500
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bentley $274
  • Harvard $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bentley 59%
  • Harvard 46%
  • % Women
  • Bentley 41%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bentley Medium
  • Harvard Very High
  • HBCU
  • Bentley No
  • Harvard No
  • % White
  • Bentley 62%
  • Harvard 44%
  • % Asian
  • Bentley 8%
  • Harvard 19%
  • % Black
  • Bentley 3%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bentley 7%
  • Harvard 10%
  • % Native American
  • Bentley 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bentley 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bentley 2%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % International
  • Bentley 14%
  • Harvard 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bentley 3%
  • Harvard 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bentley 39%
  • Harvard 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bentley 44%
  • Harvard 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Bentley University in Waltham, MA with Harvard University in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Bentley based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 5,333 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bentley University is located in Waltham, MA (Small City setting); Harvard University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Bentley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bentley University 12:1; Harvard University 7:1.

Bentley vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bentley or Harvard? 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 Harvard University than Bentley ($17,525 vs. $45,802).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bentley University are 5% lower than at Harvard University ($20,140 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bentley (about $676 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $61,000.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at Harvard than at Bentley University (about $676 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $61,000.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bentley University than at Harvard University (88% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 102% larger than aid received by Bentley University students ($68,015 vs. $33,673).

Bentley vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bentley or Harvard? 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 Harvard and Bentley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 190 points higher than at Bentley (1360).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 29 at Bentley).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bentley University 1280/1430; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bentley University 28/31; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bentley - Test optional; Harvard - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bentley Jan 15, 2027; Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Bentley (3.75).
  • Bentley has a higher acceptance rate (45.1%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.3% at Bentley vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

Bentley vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bentley and Harvard? 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Bentley University's (88%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $49,500 more per year than Bentley graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $87,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $20,000 lower median loan debt than Bentley graduates ($6,500 vs. $26,500).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $207 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bentley graduates ($67 vs. $274).
  • More Bentley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 70%)

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.