Bennington College - Admission Requirements, SAT, ACT, GPA and chance of acceptance

Your chances of getting into Bennington College

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Percent Admitted

45.3%

Admission Difficulty for Bennington College
Measure	Difficulty
Admission Standards		Very High
Applicant Competition		Average

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Bennington is 45.3%. Its admission rate is the 2nd lowest in Vermont.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Bennington and can you get accepted?

Bennington is a more competitive school to get into. You have a good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission criteria. Last year, 1,269 out of the 2,801 who applied were admitted.

Bennington College typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.51. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top quarter of their high school class. 17% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into Bennington?

45% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to Bennington College you should:

Have a high school GPA of 3.51 or better
Earn B+ grades in high school
Score 1320 on the SAT
Score 31 on the ACT
Graduate in the top 25% of your high school class

Bennington GPA

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Avg. High School GPA

3.51

Typical High School Grades

B+

What GPA do you need to get into Bennington College?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into Bennington are to have around a 3.51 high school GPA. You are required to have very good grades in high school.

Even with a competitive GPA, admission to Bennington will be challenging as the school denies more applicants than it admits.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at Bennington is 3.51 on the 4.0 scale. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn B+ letter grades and regularly score around 87-89 percent on tests and assignments in high school. The school ranks #3 in Vermont for highest average GPA.

Importance of GPA

Since Bennington is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.5 GPA range.

Competitiveness by GPA Ranges

The table below outlines the number of admitted freshmen by GPA range as well as how competitive your GPA will be as compared with other applicants.

High School GPA's for admitted Bennington College students
High School GPA	Freshmen Within Range	Competitiveness
4.0	5.36%	Good
3.75 to 3.99	28.57%	Avg +
3.50 to 3.74	22.32%	Avg -
3.25 to 3.49	16.07%	Avg -
3.00 to 3.24	17.86%	Reach
2.50 to 2.99	8.93%	Reach
2.00 to 2.49	0.9%	Low
1.00 to 1.99	0%	Low
less than 1.00	0%	Low

What do these chances mean?

GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2022

Calculate My Chances

Bennington SAT Scores

Testing Requirements

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Bennington College. If you optionally submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 13% of students submitted SAT scores and 5% submitted ACT scores for admission for the most recent academic year..

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Range

1260-1370

Applicants Submitting SAT

13%

SAT Scores for Bennington College
SAT Test	25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile	660
Math 25th Percentile	600
Composite 25th Percentile	1260

SAT Scores for Bennington College
SAT Test	75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile	700
Math 75th Percentile	670
Composite 75th Percentile	1370
Average SAT Score	1320

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to Bennington College?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at Bennington is 1320 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1260-1370. Students who get into Bennington College score in the top 17 percent of all SAT test takers.. Bennington ranks #3 in the state of Vermont and #170 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1320 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. Bennington regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1260 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1260, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 1200, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

Bennington College is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1320 SAT score range.

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1315, you have around a 45% chance of being admitted. A 1370 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 61% chance of getting in.

Bennington College admission chances by SAT score
SAT Score (1600 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
1370 and Above	Good	>61%
1315 to 1370	Avg +	45%-61%
1260 to 1315	Avg -	30%-45%
1205 to 1260	Reach	18%-30%
Less than 1205	Low	<18%

Calculate My Chances

Bennington ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range

29-33

Applicants Submitting ACT

ACT Scores for Bennington College
ACT Test	25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile	N/A
Math 25th Percentile	N/A
Composite 25th Percentile	29

ACT Scores for Bennington College
ACT Test	75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile	N/A
Math 75th Percentile	N/A
Composite 75th Percentile	33
Average ACT Score	31

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into Bennington?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to Bennington is 31, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 29 and 33. The school ranks #2 in Vermont and #111 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 31. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 29 and score in the score in the top 9 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 27.

5 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Bennington College.

Score Submission Requirements

You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as Bennington College is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into Bennington for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 31 score has around 45% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 61% with a 33 ACT score.

Bennington College admission chances by ACT score
ACT Score	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
33 and Above	Good	>61%
31 to 33	Avg +	45%-61%
29 to 31	Avg -	30%-45%
27 to 29	Reach	18%-30%
Less than 27	Low	<18%

Calculate My Chances

High School Class Rank

61% of Bennington College freshman are in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class and 39% are in the top ten percent.

High School Class Rank for admitted Bennington College students
High School Class Rank	Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class	39%
Top 25% of class	61%
Top 50% of class	85%

Data Source, Peterson's Data

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Bennington College admission statistics
	Women	Men	Total
Applied	1,804	997	2,801
Accepted	941	328	1,269
Acceptance Rate	52%	33%	45%
Enrolled	161	59	220
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield)	17%	18%	17%

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Fall 2024 Application Deadline

Applications Due

Jan 15, 2025

Days left to Apply

Applicants have 67 days left until the Fall 2024 term applications are due on Jan 15, 2025.

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Bennington College is $0. The school is free to apply to.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Bennington College and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Bennington College Application Requirements
Test Scores	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
High School GPA	Required to be considered for admission
High School Class Rank	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program	Required to be considered for admission
Recommendations	Required to be considered for admission
Demonstration of Competencies	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted

Credits Accepted

High School Credits Accepted at Bennington College
AP Credit	No
Dual Credit	No
Credit for Life Experiences	No

Admission Requirements Summary

Because Bennington is fairly competitive, you have a decent chance of acceptance with the right GPA and test scores. If you have a 3.51 GPA, you have a good shot at getting in. An SAT score of 1320 will further improve your application. If you can get a 1370 on the SAT you will have a very good chance on getting in. Additionally a 31 on the ACT places you in a strong position.