Bentley Ranks No. 14 in the Nation for Student Outcomes in TIME’s Best Colleges List
This September TIME magazine launched its inaugural “America’s Best Colleges” list, ranking Bentley University No. 14 in the U.S. in the student outcomes category. Bentley’s appearance on the list serves as yet another national recognition of the university’s strong record of preparing its graduates for career success.
Among 500 colleges and universities on the 2026–2027 list, Bentley also ranks No. 28 overall, placing it among the top 6% of all schools listed.
Developed by TIME in partnership with the data service company Statista, the ranking places greater emphasis on student outcomes than any other measure. In fact, 75% of a university’s overall score is calculated by graduate earnings, graduation rates and return on education (a metric that captures the financial payoff of attending an institution relative to its cost).
TIME’s specific approach to weighted scoring makes Bentley’s No. 14 ranking especially noteworthy. For decades, the university has put strong emphasis on what happens to students after they graduate; whether they find good jobs, further their education and see a positive return on investment.
Outcomes at the Center of TIME’s Ranking
For its inaugural list, TIME evaluated 500 U.S. colleges in three key areas:
- Student outcomes
- Learning environment
- Attractiveness to prospective students
The publication’s methodology also considers more than just raw earnings. It takes into consideration graduates’ actual earnings and compares them against expected salaries in a certain field or role.
Preparing Students for What Comes After College
For Bentley’s undergraduate Class of 2025, 98% of graduates were employed or attending (or planning to attend) graduate school within six months of graduation. The class also reported a median starting salary of $75,000 — the highest in university history.
For more than two decades, between 97% and 99% of Bentley graduates have been employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation.
At Bentley, career preparation begins early. More than 95% of first-year students take Bentley’s Career Design Seminar, which helps students:
- Explore their professional interests
- Identify personal strengths
- Evaluate possible career paths
Beyond the first-year seminar, students are also encouraged to work with the Pulsifer Career Development Center throughout their time at the university. Programming prepares students through career coaching, internship support, employer connections, networking opportunities and recruiting initiatives.
Bentley’s dedication to career-focused outcomes and highly individualized support has repeatedly earned the university the No. 1 ranking in the country for Best Career Services by The Princeton Review.
TIME’s new ranking provides additional evidence of the success of Bentley’s career-focused student experience.