Bentley vs. Harvard

Bentley University and Harvard University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Bentley University
Harvard University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Harvard (3.6% admitted vs 45.1%). Typical SAT 1550 vs 1360.
  • Cheaper after aid: Harvard. Average net price is $17,525 vs $45,802 at Bentley.
  • Graduation: Bentley 88% vs Harvard 97%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Bentley $87,200 vs Harvard $136,700 (median).
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Key differences

Bentley University Harvard University
Acceptance rate
Harvard more selective
Bentley45.1%
Harvard3.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Harvard higher
Bentley1280-1430
Harvard1510-1580
Average net price
Harvard $28,277 less
Bentley$45,802
Harvard$17,525
In-state tuition
Bentley $676 less
Bentley$61,000
Harvard$61,676
Out-of-state tuition
Bentley $676 less
Bentley$61,000
Harvard$61,676
Graduation rate
Harvard +9 pts
Bentley88%
Harvard97%
Median earnings (10 years)
Harvard +$49,500
Bentley$87,200
Harvard$136,700

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Bentley 11,012
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • Bentley 4,961
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance rate
  • Bentley 45.1%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • 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
  • SAT range
  • Bentley 1280-1430
  • Harvard 1510-1580
  • ACT range
  • Bentley 28-31
  • Harvard 34-36
  • Submit test scores
  • Bentley Test optional
  • Harvard Required
  • Application deadline
  • Bentley Jan 15, 2027
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • 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%
  • 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
  • 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%)
  • 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

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 tables 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.

Cost details

  • 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).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at Harvard than at Bentley University (about $676 more per year; $61,676 vs. $61,000).
  • 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).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 6 points higher at Harvard than at Bentley (35 vs. 29, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Bentley, required at Harvard.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bentley Jan 15, 2027; Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Harvard average a 4.0 high school GPA, 0.25 higher than at Bentley (3.75).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.3% at Bentley vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

Loans and repayment

  • 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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