University of the Arts

Dear University of the Arts students, 

All of us at Bennington were saddened to learn of the closing of your school. As you deal with this hardship, we want to welcome you to explore the rigorous education and creative opportunities available at Bennington College in Vermont. 

Arts at the center

Bennington College was founded with a bold idea: the visual and performing arts should hold a central place in a liberal arts education. This revolutionary approach has made Bennington a home for the talented artists and creators who reinvent dance; make theater, movies, and television; create today’s literary landscape, compose and perform culture-shaping music; and advance art in all its forms. 

Our alumni, faculty, and visiting artists are the most famous names in their fields, like dancers Martha Graham and José Limón, painter Helen Frankenthaler, and writers Michael Pollan and Donna Tartt. 

The Princeton Review rated Bennington #3 in the nation for College Theater. Bennington earns high marks for innovation, classroom experience, and economic diversity too.

We’ve made it easy

There are no barriers to attending Bennington this fall:

• Fast-track Admissions: Our fast-track admission process allows you to apply with one quick application form (see "next steps" below) and your University of the Arts transcript.
  • Accepted UArts students who have not yet taken classes may present their acceptance letter in lieu of a transcript.
• Scholarships Honored: Bennington honors all University of the Arts scholarship commitments, so you won’t pay any more to attend Bennington than you pay now. Just submit your aid letter with your application. 
• Credit Transfer: Bennington will review your UArts transcript and quickly provide information on transfer credits. We expect to accept the majority of credits, with the possible exception of some elective courses.

The education you want

We have what you want, including most of the same areas of study as UArts and many more. Study your current area of interest plus Architecture, Art History, Ceramics, and Digital Arts and other disciplines, like Anthropology, Languages, Public Action, and others. 

• Our flexible curriculum allows exploration without limits. As a Bennington student, you formulate your own unique plan suited to your academic interests. It can include a combination of disciplines, so you don’t have to choose between the things you love. 
• With graduate-style advising from talented faculty practitioners, some of whom are UArts alumni, you challenge yourself through invigorating project-based learning. 
• Bennington students spend six weeks each year pursuing a relevant internship, job, or performance individually suited to your interests. Students work at theaters, concert venues, museums, galleries, studios, publishing houses, and other great companies and organizations. 
• Our breathtakingly gorgeous campus is an inclusive makerspace designed to give you the studio space and technology you need to grow. 

Areas of Study: University of the Arts & Bennington College

 Next steps

• Transfer students can apply through our fast-track process. Find the easy one-page online application for transfer students here. 
• First-year students should use this easy one-page application for first-year students.

Anyone with questions can email Brenna May at brennamay@bennington.edu. She will answer questions and provide personalized guidance to get you back on track toward the degree you want.

Don’t wait

The special UArts transfer application target is on or before July 8, 2024. Decisions are released on a rolling basis. Next term starts August 29.

We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to our creative community of animators, painters, writers, filmmakers, sculptors, photographers, designers, screenwriters, actors, directors, composers, musicians, dancers, artists, and creators. 

Sincerely, 

Tonya Strong

Interim Vice President for Enrollment and Financial Aid