Organizer Information
Bennington College is a private liberal arts college in Bennington, Vermont, offering undergraduate and graduate education with a strong emphasis on individualized study, the arts, interdisciplinary work, and faculty mentorship. Undergraduate students primarily pursue a Bachelor of Arts through an individually designed academic Plan, while specialized Bachelor of Fine Arts options and graduate programs provide more structured study in selected creative disciplines.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Bennington College
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate
- Degrees Offered: BA / BFA / MA / MFA
- Academic Fields: Visual Arts, Photography, Video, Digital Arts, Architecture, Art History, Dance, Drama, Music, Media Studies, Writing, Film and Video, Animation & Production Design, and related interdisciplinary fields.
- Relevant Programs: Undergraduate BA; BFA Dance Lab; BFA Creative Writing; MFA in Dance; Low-Residency MFA in Dance; MFA in Music; MFA in Public Action; MFA in Screenwriting; MFA in Writing; MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes for undergraduate study; graduate eligibility varies by program.
- Application Period: Undergraduate applications follow Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, and transfer cycles; graduate application periods vary by program.
- Application Deadline: Undergraduate deadlines range from 1 November to 30 April depending on application type; graduate deadlines are program-specific.
- Start of Studies: Fall undergraduate entry; graduate entry varies by program.
- Application Fee: Undergraduate $0; verified graduate program fees vary by program.
- Tuition: Undergraduate $71,700 for 2026–2027; graduate tuition varies by program.
- Funding: Need-based and merit-based financial aid, scholarships, grants, and selected graduate assistantships are available.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Bennington's undergraduate curriculum allows students to combine areas of study rather than follow a conventional major structure. Relevant creative disciplines include visual arts, photography, video, digital arts, architecture, drawing and painting, sculpture, printmaking, dance, drama, music, media studies, writing, and animation and production design.
- Students interested in moving-image practice can pursue Video, which includes experimental, documentary, critical, and poetic approaches and incorporates film history, editing, sound, lighting, and production.
- Program-specific graduate admission requirements apply. For example, the MFA in Dance expects substantial professional experience in choreography, performance, or related disciplines, while the Low-Residency MFA in Dance is designed for mid-career artists, teachers, and dance professionals.
General Eligibility
- Bennington accepts undergraduate applications from first-year and transfer applicants and welcomes international applicants. First-year applicants generally enter after secondary education or an equivalent qualification; transfer eligibility depends on previous enrollment and degree-seeking status.
Educational background
- Undergraduate applicants must provide secondary-school transcripts, while graduate requirements depend on the individual program. The MFA in Writing can waive the usual bachelor's-degree requirement when the admissions readers determine that the application warrants an exception.
- The MFA in Dance expects substantial professional experience beyond undergraduate study. Other graduate programs establish their own academic and professional requirements.
- International undergraduate applicants must satisfy additional documentation and English-proficiency requirements. Enrolled international students must also complete an International Student Certification of Finances before Bennington issues an I-20.
Language Requirements
- International undergraduate applicants must demonstrate English proficiency unless they are native English speakers or have received at least three years of fully English-language secondary education. Accepted tests include TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, and PTE Academic. Bennington does not establish a formal minimum score, but it reports typical successful-applicant scores of at least TOEFL 100/5.0 under the applicable scoring scale, IELTS 7, DET 130, or PTE Academic 70.
- Program-specific graduate English requirements may apply.
Application Fee
| Applicant / Program | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate applications | $0 |
| MFA in Writing | $75 single genre / $100 dual genre |
| MFA in Screenwriting | $25 |
| MFA in Public Action | $75 |
Undergraduate applications have no application fee. Graduate fees vary by program.
Tuition
| Study Level / Program | Applicant Type | Tuition | Billing Structure | Other Mandatory Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Full-time | $71,700 | Academic year 2026–2027 | $1,200 fees; $500 enrollment fee |
| MFA in Dance | Graduate | $27,300 estimated | Annual | Program-specific |
| Low-Residency MFA in Dance | Graduate | $68,160 tuition for 60 credits | Per credit | $250/semester low-residency fees; $500 enrollment fee |
| MFA in Music | Graduate | $27,300 estimated | Annual | Program-specific |
| MFA in Public Action | Graduate | $24,700 | Annual | $500 enrollment deposit |
| MFA in Screenwriting | Graduate | $34,000 for 2027–2028 | Annual | $3,000 Los Angeles residency fee; $500 enrollment deposit |
| MFA in Writing | Graduate | $25,400 for 2026–2027 | Annual | $1,500 final residency fee; $500 enrollment deposit |
- Undergraduate room and board bring the published 2026–2027 direct-cost total to $93,000. For international undergraduates, Bennington lists an estimated $2,500 health-insurance cost, producing a published total of $95,500 including tuition, room, board, fees, and estimated insurance.
- Graduate tuition figures can differ by program structure, credit load, and academic year.
Funding & Financial Support
- Bennington provides financial aid to eligible undergraduate students, including international students. International applicants may receive need-based and/or merit-based financial aid and must submit a separate financial-aid application for need-based consideration.
- Graduate funding varies by program. Examples include MFA Writing scholarships, the Ulysses Dove Grant for the Low-Residency MFA in Dance, Screenwriting scholarships, and graduate assistantships. The MFA in Music offers graduate assistantships that can provide a 50% tuition reduction in exchange for specified work.
University Services & Academic Support
- Bennington's undergraduate model provides close faculty advising through the individual Plan process. Students develop their academic and creative work with faculty advisors and Plan committees. The College also provides specialized studios, digital labs, workshops, production facilities, performance spaces, and library/archive resources for creative disciplines.
- Visual Arts students have access to facilities for ceramics, architecture, woodworking, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and digital arts. Field Work Term placements provide additional professional and creative experience.
- International Student Services provides immigration and visa advising, work-permission guidance, orientation, cultural-adjustment support, and related academic support.
Application Requirements
- Undergraduate first-year applicants submit the Common Application or Coalition Application, two teacher recommendations, a school report and counselor evaluation, a personal statement of 600 words or less, and high-school transcripts. SAT and ACT scores are optional.
- International undergraduate applicants may additionally need English-test results and officially translated transcripts. Interviews are offered by invitation rather than required for every applicant.
- Graduate requirements are program-specific. For example, the MFA in Dance requires a résumé, portfolio, essay, official transcripts, and three professional references; interviews are by faculty invitation. The Low-Residency MFA in Dance requires a portfolio, artist statement, essay, CV/resumé, two recommendations, and transcripts.
- The MFA in Writing requires written work, an essay, three recommendations, transcripts, and its program-specific application materials.
How to Apply?
- Application Portal
Deadline & Timeline
- Early Decision I: 1 November 2026
- Early Action: 1 November 2026
- Regular Decision: 10 January 2027
- Fall Transfer Priority Deadline: 7 April 2027
- Fall Transfer Final Deadline: 30 April 2027
- MFA in Screenwriting Priority Deadline: 15 December 2026
- MFA in Screenwriting Final Deadline: 8 January 2027
- MFA in Writing Summer Entry Deadline: 1 March
- MFA in Writing Winter Entry Deadline: 1 September 2026
- MFA in Dance Priority Deadline: 15 March 2027
- MFA in Dance Financial Aid Deadline: 1 April 2027
- Low-Residency MFA in Dance Application Deadline: 1 March
- Low-Residency MFA in Dance Summer 2027 Term: 14 June 2027 – 23 July 2027
- MFA in Music Application Deadline: 15 March 2027
- MFA in Music Financial Aid Deadline: 1 April 2027
- MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling January 2027 Priority Deadline: 1 October 2026
- MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling January 2027 Final Deadline: 15 October 2026
- MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling January 2027 Residency: 7 January 2027 – 17 January 2027
Location
Bennington College — Bennington, Vermont, United States
Additional Details
Bennington's undergraduate model differs substantially from a conventional major-based university: students design an individual academic Plan, while selected BFA programs provide more structured study.
Graduate admissions, international eligibility, application fees, tuition, and deadlines are program-specific. In particular, the MFA in Screenwriting currently states that it cannot accept students without U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, while the MFA in Writing provides specific procedures for international students seeking F-1 status. Applicants should therefore verify international eligibility on the individual graduate program page before applying.
The College states that 2027–2028 tuition and fee information, including Summer 2027 and Winter 2028 terms, will be published by 1 February 2027; consequently, some current published financial figures relate to 2026–2027 while the active graduate admissions cycle may be for 2027–2028.