Harry C. Bentley opened a school of accounting and finance in Boston in 1917. It moved to a hillside campus in Waltham in 1968 and is now Bentley University, a business-focused university with a liberal arts core. The trading room, fitted with market data terminals, and the accounting programmes are the usual reasons people apply. Boston is about 10 miles east.
Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
Official website: bentley.edu
1917, in Boston
Private business university
AACSB, business and accounting
Waltham, Massachusetts
$50,000 – $62,000
International students, before scholarships
$18,000 – $23,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on bentley.edu before you apply.
BS Accountancy
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
BS Finance
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
MS Business Analytics
Masters DegreeDuration
12-18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
MS Accountancy
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
12-24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
A trading room used in everyday finance classes.
Accounting programmes that feed the Big Four's Boston offices.
Business degrees paired with liberal arts courses.
Graduates join accounting firms, banks and asset managers in Boston.
Business analytics is STEM-designated, so graduates can use up to three years of OPT.
Most undergraduates complete at least one internship before graduating.
Undergrad
Main intake
Postgrad
Most programmes
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Selected programmes
The campus climbs a hill off Forest Street, with residence halls at the top. Moody Street, Waltham's run of restaurants near the Charles River, is a short ride away.
The Fitchburg commuter rail line runs from Waltham into North Station. Rents are high, as anywhere near Boston, so most undergraduates stay in campus housing.
Form I-20 issued by Bentley University
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduates can apply early decision or early action in November, or regular decision in early January. Graduate programmes review on a rolling basis with priority dates in winter and spring. Apply early to leave time for the I-20.
Undergraduates start in August. Graduate programmes start in August and January.
It's the F-1 student visa. Get your I-20 from Bentley University first (they need your deposit and bank documents), then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend the visa interview. Book the interview early in peak season.
Accountancy, finance, business analytics and the MBA are popular. Undergraduates need strong school results and TOEFL 90 or IELTS 6.5. Graduate programmes need a bachelor's degree, and the GMAT or GRE is often optional.
Bentley offers merit scholarships to strong undergraduate applicants, including international students, and some need-based aid. Graduate merit awards are decided at admission. Most awards cover part of tuition.
