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Bentley University

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Bentley University
Former names
Bentley School of Accounting and Finance (1917–1961)
Bentley College of Accounting and Finance (1961–1971)
Bentley College (1971–2008)
TypePrivate university
Established1917; 109 years ago (1917)
Endowment$390.4 million (2025)[1]
PresidentE. LaBrent Chrite[2]
Faculty295 full-time, 217 part-time
Students5,333 (fall 2024)[3]
Undergraduates4,526 (fall 2024)[3]
Postgraduates807 (fall 2024)[3]
Location
Waltham, Massachusetts
,
U.S.

42°23′15″N 71°13′14″W / 42.3876°N 71.2206°W / 42.3876; -71.2206
Campus
  • Suburban, 163 acres (66 ha)
Colors       [4]
NicknameFalcons
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division II – Northeast-10 Conference
NCAA Division I – Atlantic Hockey America (men's ice hockey)
NEISA (sailing)
MascotFlex the Falcon
Websitewww.bentley.edu
Map

Bentley University is a private university in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. It was founded in 1917 as a school of accounting and finance in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood. The university specializes in business education while offering undergraduate programs in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural and applied sciences. Its academic offerings include Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees, master's degree programs, an MBA, and doctoral programs.[5][6]

Aerial view of Bentley University's campus in Waltham, Massachusetts.

The university enrolled 5,333 students in fall 2024, including 4,526 undergraduates and 807 graduate students.[3]

Bentley's main campus contains most of the university's academic, administrative, and student facilities. The university also maintains a North Campus approximately one mile from its main campus, with four residential buildings.

History

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Bentley University was founded in 1917 as the Bentley School of Accounting and Finance by Harry C. Bentley, following his departure from a professorship at the College of Business Administration at Boston University in late 1916. Thirty students attended Bentley's first class on February 26, 1917, in a room secured by Bentley at 30 Huntington Avenue in Boston.

For the 1920–1921 school year, Bentley leased and renovated several floors at 921 Boylston Street to accommodate an expanding student population. The building later became home to the admissions office of Berklee College of Music. Although the school operated in several buildings throughout Boston, the Boylston Street location became the center of its campus.

During the Great Depression, Bentley maintained a relatively stable student population, with a small decline during the middle of the 1930s. Between 1937 and 1941, as enrollment increased, the school rented and renovated additional space at 325 Newbury Street.

During World War II, Bentley's enrollment declined from a peak of 3,084 students in the 1938–1939 academic year to 1,055 in 1944–1945. The school began admitting women again in 1942, and more than 1,000 women attended Bentley between 1942 and 1946. Although the school had previously admitted women during World War I, coeducation became a permanent feature of the institution during World War II.

In 1948, the Bentley School of Accounting and Finance was incorporated as a nonprofit organization, and Harry Bentley transferred his ownership interests in the school to the nonprofit. A 27-member board of trustees was established to oversee the institution. All of the original trustees except Bentley were alumni.

In 1953, Harry Bentley stepped down as president and became president emeritus. Maurice Monroe Lindsay, who had taught at Bentley since the 1920s, succeeded him as the institution's second president.[7]

The historic Jonathan Hammond House, built in 1785 and located on Bentley University's Waltham campus.

In 1961, Bentley received authorization to confer four-year Bachelor of Science degrees. Under president Thomas Lincoln Morison, the college relocated from its Boylston Street facilities in Boston to its present location in Waltham, Massachusetts. Land for the new campus was purchased from the Lyman Estate in 1962, and construction took place from 1963 to 1968.[8]

The Waltham campus includes the Jonathan Hammond House, a historic residence constructed in 1785. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.[9]

Gregory H. Adamian became Bentley's fourth president in 1970. During his presidency, the college received authorization to confer Bachelor of Arts degrees in 1971 and graduate degrees in 1973. The institution also adopted the name Bentley College.

In 2002, Bentley College opened a campus in Bahrain in partnership with the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance. In 2005, the college received authorization to award its first doctoral degrees in business and accountancy.[10]

Bentley's Baker Library, photographed from Adamian in 2007.

The Bentley Library underwent a major renovation in 2006. The college also adopted a redesigned logo featuring the library's clock tower.[11]

In 2007, Gloria Cordes Larson, a former state and federal government official and Boston-based attorney, became Bentley's first female president.

In 2008, the institution changed its name from Bentley College to Bentley University after receiving authorization from the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education.[12]

Alison Davis-Blake, a former dean of the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, became Bentley's eighth president in July 2018. She stepped down in June 2020 and was succeeded on an interim basis by Paul Condrin, chairman of the board of trustees.[13]

In March 2021, the board of trustees unanimously appointed E. LaBrent Chrite as Bentley's ninth president.[14] Chrite continued to serve as president in 2026.[2]

Presidents

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President From To
Harry C. Bentley 1917 1953
Maurice M. Lindsay 1953 1961
Thomas L. Morison 1961 1970
Gregory H. Adamian 1970 1991
Joseph M. Cronin 1991 1997
Joseph G. Morone 1997 2005
Gloria Cordes Larson 2007 2018
Alison Davis-Blake 2018 2020
E. LaBrent Chrite 2021 Incumbent

Academics

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The Smith Academic Technology Center at Bentley University.

Bentley University offers undergraduate education through Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degree programs combining business studies with the liberal arts and sciences. Undergraduate fields include accounting, finance, management, marketing, economics, computer information systems, data analytics, mathematical sciences, humanities, public policy, and other disciplines.[5]

The university's 2026–2027 undergraduate catalog also lists programs in artificial intelligence for innovation, finance and technology, experience design, health industries, sustainability, and creative industries, among other fields.[15]

The McCallum Graduate School of Business offers Master of Business Administration programs and Master of Science degrees in accounting, business analytics, finance, and human factors in information design. Graduate offerings include full-time, part-time, professional, STEM-focused, and healthcare-focused MBA programs. Bentley also offers doctoral programs in accounting and business, including a part-time Executive PhD in Business.[6]

The Master of Science in Human Factors in Information Design focuses on user experience research, usability testing, behavioral science, and the design of digital products and services. The program has offered flexible study options incorporating instruction in California and online learning.[16][17]

Undergraduate admissions

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In 2024, Bentley University accepted approximately 48% of undergraduate applicants. Admitted applicants had an average high school grade point average (GPA) of 3.75. The university had a test-optional admissions policy under which applicants could submit standardized test scores for consideration.

Among admitted students who submitted standardized test scores, the average SAT score was 1,340 and the average ACT score was 30. Approximately 27% submitted SAT results and 5% submitted ACT results.[18]

Rankings

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U.S. News & World Report ranked Bentley University first among Regional Universities North in its 2026 Best Colleges rankings. The same edition placed Bentley second for Most Innovative Schools in the North, fourth for Best Value Schools in the North, and eleventh for Best Undergraduate Teaching in the North.[19]

In August 2026, The Princeton Review ranked Bentley first nationally for Best Career Services in its 2027 Best Colleges guide. This was the fourth consecutive year that Bentley held the top position in that category, according to the university.[20]

In Bloomberg's 2022–2023 ranking of U.S. business schools, Bentley placed 77th.[21]

Student life

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A student residence hall on Bentley University's campus, photographed in 2011.

Organizations

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Bentley University has a variety of student organizations focusing on business, finance, investment management, marketing, entrepreneurship, and other subjects.

Members of Bentley University's College Fed Challenge team with Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen in 2014.

The university's Fed Challenge team won the College National Fed Challenge in 2010[22] and finished second in 2012.[23]

The university is also home to the Bentley Investment Group, a student-run organization that has managed a portion of the university's endowment.[24]

The Bentley Investment Group began in 1997 with $250,000 in capital and 24 original members.[25]

Other academic and professional student organizations have included the Bentley Open Market Committee, Bentley Marketing Association, TAMID, and the Bentley Real Estate Group.

Club sports

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In addition to intercollegiate athletics and intramural sports, Bentley offers club sports and recreational activities for students.

The university's club sports have included the Bentley Equestrian Team, which participates in equestrian activities. Bentley's founder, Harry C. Bentley, was himself an enthusiast of horseback riding.[26]

Campus media

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Student and university publications and media outlets associated with Bentley have included:

  • The Vanguard, a student-produced campus newspaper.[27]
  • The Vale, a student-produced yearbook.
  • Bentley TV, a student-operated campus television organization.[28]
  • Piecework, a student-produced literary magazine.
  • Bentley Observer, a university publication for alumni.[29]
  • WBTY Radio Bentley, a campus radio organization.
  • Falcon Records, a student-associated music organization.
  • Fusio, an undergraduate research journal associated with the university's honors program.[30]

Athletics

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Bentley's Garrett Horsager competing against Air Force's Austin Schwartz during a January 2025 men's ice hockey game.

Bentley's athletic teams are known as the Bentley Falcons, and the university's mascot is Flex the Falcon. Most of the university's varsity teams compete in the Northeast-10 Conference at the NCAA Division II level. The men's ice hockey program competes in Atlantic Hockey America at the NCAA Division I level.

Bentley Arena, located on the university's campus, is the home venue for the men's ice hockey team.

Men's ice hockey

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The Bentley Falcons men's ice hockey program won consecutive Atlantic Hockey America tournament championships in 2025 and 2026, earning the program's first two appearances in the NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament.[31]

In the 2025–2026 season, Bentley also won the Atlantic Hockey America regular-season championship for the first time in program history. The Falcons finished the season with a 23–12–5 record, having defeated Sacred Heart University 3–2 in the conference championship game before losing 5–1 to Michigan in the first round of the NCAA tournament.[32]

Andy Jones became the team's head coach in 2023, succeeding Ryan Soderquist, who had coached the program for 21 seasons. Jones was named the 2025–2026 Atlantic Hockey America Coach of the Year.[33]

Other sports

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Bentley's rugby program won two Division III national titles in 2007 and 2008, as well as the 2008 Beast of the East tournament. The program qualified for the Division II national tournament in 2011 and 2012 and won the Rugby Northeast Conference championship in 2011.[34]

Bentley's men's ultimate frisbee team won the USA Ultimate Division III College Championship in 2014.[35]

During the 2025–2026 academic year, Bentley's baseball team won the Northeast-10 Conference championship and reached the NCAA Division II College World Series for the first time in program history. Its men's soccer team also qualified for the NCAA tournament, while the football team won the Northeast-10 Conference title and reached the NCAA playoffs.[31]

Notable people

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Alumni

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Faculty and staff

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References

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  1. ↑ "FY25 Bentley University Financial Reports" (PDF). Bentley University. June 30, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  2. 1 2 "News and Updates from Bentley University President E. LaBrent Chrite". Bentley University. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Common Data Set 2024–2025" (PDF). Bentley University. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  4. ↑ Bentley Brand Visual Identity. Bentley University. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Majors and Minors". 2026–2027 Undergraduate Catalog. Bentley University. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Academic Programs". 2026–2027 Graduate Catalog. Bentley University. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  7. ↑ "1917: Humble Beginnings – Bentley Through the Years". Bentley University. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  8. ↑ Archives, Bentley (January 12, 2017). "The Bentley Campus: From Boston to Waltham". Bentley University. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Jonathan Hammond House". Massachusetts Historical Commission. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Bentley Introduces Its First Business PhD Programs". Bentley University. Archived from the original on February 7, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Bentley College Debuts State-of-the-Art Business Library". Bentley University. Archived from the original on February 7, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Bentley morphs from college into university". Boston.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Bentley's president steps down after two-year tenure". Wicked Local Waltham. June 18, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Bentley University names first Black president". Boston Business Journal. March 17, 2021. Archived from the original on March 17, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Undergraduate Majors". 2026–2027 Undergraduate Catalog. Bentley University. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  16. ↑ "MBA and MS Programs". 2026–2027 Graduate Catalog. Bentley University. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Flexible Learning Options: East Coast, West Coast and Online". Bentley University. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Bentley Admission Requirements". CollegeSimply. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Bentley University Named #2 Most Innovative School in the North by U.S. News & World Report". Bentley University. October 8, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Four Years at No. 1: The Princeton Review Once Again Ranks Bentley Career Services Best in the U.S." Bentley University. August 17, 2026. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Bentley". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Federal Reserve announces college Fed Challenge winners". Federal Reserve Board. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Federal Reserve announces college Fed Challenge winners". Federal Reserve Board. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Bentley University Entrusts Students With Part Of Endowment". NASDAQ.com. March 2, 2010. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Bentley Investment Group". Bentley University. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2022. [dead link]
  26. ↑ Putney, Clifford (2019). "Harry Clark Bentley: A Pioneering Accountant and the Founder of Bentley University (1877–1967)". Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  27. ↑ "The Vanguard: Official Student Newspaper of Bentley University". The Vanguard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2011.
  28. ↑ "Bentley TV". Archived from the original on October 20, 2009.
  29. ↑ "Publications: Bentley". Bentley University. Archived from the original on February 8, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  30. ↑ "Fusio: The Bentley Undergraduate Research Journal". Bentley University. Archived from the original on February 23, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  31. 1 2 "Annual Report 2025–2026". Bentley University Athletics. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Bentley's memorable season comes to a close with NCAA first round defeat to #1 Michigan, 5–1". Bentley University Athletics. March 27, 2026. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Andy Jones – Head Hockey Coach". Bentley University Athletics. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Bentley University". URugby. February 20, 2015. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Bentley wins men's division at the 2014 D-III College Championships". USA Ultimate. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  36. ↑ Derek Reveron (2007). "Shining Through". Hispanic Business. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014.
  37. ↑ "PAYNE, Frederick George (1904–1978)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  38. ↑ "Derek Tran". Meet the Freshmen. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  39. ↑ "Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant headline 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame class; Bentley's Barbara Stevens elected with six others". The Boston Globe. April 4, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
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