A pioneering liberal arts college where students design their own education and complete required annual internships.
Bennington offers a distinctive education centered on the Plan Process, where students design their own curriculum with faculty guidance rather than following traditional majors. The college pioneered the integration of visual and performing arts into the liberal arts curriculum and requires all students to complete Field Work Term—a seven-week annual internship—since its founding. Graduate programs include MFAs in Writing, Dance, Music, and Public Action, plus a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The student-to-faculty ratio is 9:1, with 63% of classes having fewer than 20 students.
The 440-acre rural campus in Bennington, Vermont features modernist architecture including the award-winning Crossett Library (designed by Pietro Belluschi) and the Visual and Performing Arts Center. Ninety-four percent of students live on campus in 21 co-educational residence halls, each hosting weekly community gatherings. The campus includes academic buildings, studios, labs, performance spaces, and extensive natural areas with wooded acres, wetlands, and farmland. Historic campus elements were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022.
In 2024, Bennington accepted 45.3% of undergraduate applicants with an average admitted GPA of 3.51. The college is test-optional; those submitting scores averaged 1260–1370 on the SAT or 29–33 on the ACT. Bennington does not require standardized test scores for admission. The college also accepts transfer students who may bring up to 64 credits toward their degree.
Bennington graduates are known for outsized impact in their fields. The college reports that 95% of graduates say faculty encouraged them to pursue their goals, compared to 22% nationally. Graduates benefit from four years of professional experience through Field Work Term internships and strong alumni networks. The college maintains connections to employers and alumni worldwide who support career development.