Degree Programs Offered at Bentley University
Bentley University appears in our ranking of the 50 Most Technologically Advanced Small Colleges.
Bentley University in Massachusetts offers 25 majors and 36 minors for undergrads. It has an optional second major program that allows students to declare majors in two subjects. They can take courses from both disciplines that will count towards each degree. A joint program lets students earn a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Finance in four years. The university also has some fast track programs that help students complete both a bachelor and a master degree in only five years.
Undergrads can choose from a wide range of majors and from general areas of study. Bentley University offers a business studies major for students who want to study economics, management and other areas of business, but it also offers programs in marketing, finance, accounting and economics and finance. The liberal studies program allows students to study social sciences and other fields, including history and fine arts. Though the university only offers one foreign language major in Spanish, this program gives students the option of doing a study abroad term. Others majors available at Bentley University for undergrads include computer information services, history, health studies, professional sales, public policy, and media and culture.
Through the McCallum Graduate School of Business, Bentley University offers some graduate programs. Students can choose between a Master of Science (M.S.) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. The university’s M.S. programs include majors in taxation, accounting, human factors, finance, analytics, and digital innovation. Students in the MBA program have the choice of enrolling in a part-time or a full-time version of the program. Bentley also offers an online accelerated program. Designed for executives and others who have several years of business experience or more, it includes core and required courses as well as some electives. MBA students take courses that include Marketing Management, Accounting for Decision Making, Economic Environment of the Firm and Financial Statement Analysis for Decision Making.
About Bentley University
Located in Waltham, Massachusetts, Bentley University is a university that primarily offers business degree programs. Established in 1917 as the Bentley School of Accounting and Finance, it became a popular choice for students in Massachusetts. The school grew as students began coming from other states to enroll and after it introduced its first bachelor’s program. It would become Bentley College in 1971 and retain that name up through 2008, which was when it became Bentley University. The university’s close proximity to Boston makes it easy for professional students to work on their degrees. Its location also allows students to do internships and co-op programs in Boston.
Though the university once had a campus in Boston, it later moved to Waltham because it wanted more room to expand and grow. Its campus now consists of North, Lower and Upper campuses that are all close together. U.S. News and World Report ranks Bentley on its lists of the top 50 undergrad business programs in the country and the 10 best graduate schools in the nation. According to Princeton Review, the university is also one of the best colleges in the country for career services.
Bentley University Accreditation Details
Known for its business programs, Bentley University has full accreditation for those programs, which comes from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The ASCSB only offers program accreditation to the best schools in the nation. Bentley also has full accreditation for all its degree programs and courses from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Bentley University Application Requirements
Bentley University offers full acceptance to some students, but it also has a program that places students on a waitlist. Those students can start classes at the beginning of January rather than in the fall. The university sends decision letters by the end of December for students who meet the early decision deadline of November 15, and it mails letters in late March to those who submit their applications by January 7. Students have around a month to put down their enrollment deposits. The requirements for admissions include a completed application, $75 application fee, high school transcript, two letters of recommendation, an ACT or SAT score and an essay. Students must also provide an official school report that shows all their senior year grades.
Students applying to any graduate program must meet some specific requirements, including finishing the application by one of the university’s deadlines. Bentley has an early action deadline of November 1, but it also has other deadlines during the school year up through the middle of March. If there are any remaining spots left, the university will accept applications up through the end of August. Students will complete an application and pay an application fee before supplying their transcripts, GRE or GMAT scores and resumes. They will also need to submit two essays and two letters of recommendation and go through an admissions interview. Bentley will sometimes waive the test score but only if it believes an applicant will do well in the program based on his or her grades.
Tuition and Financial Aid
M.S. and MBA students pay $4,800 per class to attend Bentley University. It costs $62,400 to complete the MBA program and a similar amount to earn an M.S. degree from the university. Graduate students may qualify for some merit aid from Bentley. Part-time students receive close to $7,000 a year, while full-time students get more than $37,000 a year. All graduate students can also use the FAFSA to get student loans, though they may want to look at alternative funding sources too such as private loans.
Undergrads at Bentley University pay $4,818 for each course they take on campus and $2,265 for each class they take online. They pay $24,000 a semester or $48,000 a year to enroll as full-time students. Bentley charges other fees and offers health insurance for those who need it, and undergrads can also purchase a room and board package for $7,500 a semester or more. All undergrads can use the FAFSA when applying to Bentley if they also need financial aid. Their financial aid packages can include government grants and loans, a job on the university’s campus and scholarships. Bentley University usually sends award letters a few weeks after receiving a completed application packet and making a decision on that application.