Bennington College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Bennington College charges a net price of $30,947/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $123,788. Median earnings ten years after entry are $38,289, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Bennington College does not clear its cost — it ranks #8 of 9 Vermont colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $30,947/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $123,788 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $38,289 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$10,071/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$325,208 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Bennington College's own numbers. Net price $30,947 × 4 years = $123,788 total. Median earnings $38,289 fall $10,071 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $123,788 bill in about 12.4 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Bennington College students graduate with?
A median $26,000 in federal loans among completers, or 68% of the $38,289 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Bennington College students graduate?
71% finish their degree. Spread the $123,788 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $174,349 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Bennington College expensive compared with other Vermont colleges?
Its $30,947 net price runs $5,708 above the $25,239 median across the 9 Vermont colleges we profile, or $22,832 more across the full degree.