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Waltham, MA · Waltham, MA
| Bentley University | Brandeis University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $37,930/yr | $35,736/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $21,196/yr | $13,363/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $25,023 | $25,648 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $18,587/yr | $15,135/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $26,164/yr | $20,536/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $33,653/yr | $26,784/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $49,190/yr | $54,885/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $265/mo | $272/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $20,140/yr | $19,944/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $20,140/yr | $13,313/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,200/yr | $1,000/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $1,500/yr | $1,200/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $79,548/yr | $86,448/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $61,000/yr | $68,080/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $61,000/yr | $68,080/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 16% | 15% |
| Students taking federal loans | 43% | 28% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 45% | 41% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1280–1430 | 1390–1520 |
| SAT average | 1352 | 1462 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 28–31 | 31–34 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 29–34 · Math 25–32 | English 31–35 · Math 27–34 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 10,482 | 11,282 |
| Students accepted | 5,077 | 3,984 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,120 | 865 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 22% | 22% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 25% | 31% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 4% | 11% |
| High-school GPA | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 87% | 86% |
| Freshmen who come back | 93% | 87% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $120,959/yr | $77,231/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $90,680–$160,802 | $51,787–$116,723 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 89% | 88% |
| White students graduating | 90% | 88% |
| Black students graduating | 80% | 80% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 81% | 83% |
| Asian students graduating | 83% | 87% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $86,679/yr | $52,967/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 93% | 85% |
| Graduate on time | 81% | 77% |
| Pell students who graduate | 82% | 82% |
| First-gen students who finish | 90% | 79% |
| Low-income students who finish | 90% | 75% |
| Students who transfer out | 9.7% | 7.7% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $102,857/yr | $69,857/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 90% · Computer & Information Sciences 6% · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 2% | Social Sciences 19% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 19% · Psychology 8% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 90% of degrees | Social Sciences — 19% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 6% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 19% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 2% of degrees | Psychology — 8% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Social Sciences — 1% of degrees | Public Administration & Social Service — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Communication & Journalism — <1% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Human Computer Interaction — $123,666/yr | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $89,111/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 5.7% | 35% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 4,474 | 3,618 |
| Students per professor | 12 : 1 | 10 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 807 | 1,573 |
| Average professor pay | $15,847/mo | $14,570/mo |
| Full-time professors | 67% | 74% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
| Median family income | $106,566 | $72,612 |
| Setting | City (small) | City (small) |
| Location | Waltham, MA | Waltham, MA |
| Region | New England | New England |
| Founded | 1917 | 1948 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 15% | 19% |
| Men | 61% | 43% |
| Women | 39% | 57% |
| White students | 53% | 41% |
| Black students | 4.5% | 5.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 14% | 9% |
| Asian students | 10% | 18% |
| Two or more races | 3% | 4.3% |
| Other / not reported | 1.2% | 2.4% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 16% | 16% |
| Part-time students | 0.9% | 0.2% |
| Students age 25+ | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $16,265/yr | $21,670/yr |
| Endowment | $362.6M | $1.3B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 3,350 | 2,950 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $11,650/yr | $10,160/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $7,550/yr | $7,658/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | No | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | No |
| Teacher certification | No | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | No |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | Yes |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II with football | NCAA Division III without football |
| Football team | Yes | No |
| Varsity teams | 20 | 15 |
| Student athletes | 597 | 287 |
| Athletic scholarships | $5.5M | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $18.2M | $5.7M |
| Athletics revenue | $19.8M | $5.7M |
| Recruiting spend | $130,975 | $76,511 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.