March 10, 2025

“Each April, selective college admissions directors take calls from their college counseling colleagues on the other side of the desk. They share stories of applicants who are either not satisfied with their options or wish to rethink them for various reasons and inquire about accepting a late application,” said David Buckwald, Bennington College’s Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing.

Bennington wants to democratize this opportunity and turn it into an application round for all prospective students who haven’t previously applied this year. 

“With the changing political and environmental climate, we believe there are even more students than usual who want to consider our creative, close, and inclusive community in beautiful Vermont,” said Bennington College President Laura Walker.

The Late Decision application round, designed for students who are discovering Bennington later in their senior year or gap year, opens on Monday, March 10. Students can apply via the Common Application or Bennington’s Dimensional Application, with a deadline of April 8. Admissions decisions will be sent out on April 17, and accepted students will have until May 1 to reply. Like Early Action and Regular Decision, it is a non-binding admissions round. The College will host an on-campus event, BenningtonNext, on April 28, for admitted students to visit and speak with Bennington College’s remarkable faculty and student community. 

As a test-optional institution with our Dimensional Application, Bennington College has long been a leader in holistic admissions. Late Decision is an extension of that student-driven approach. 

“Not all compelling and talented students approach their college search in the same linear fashion, especially as they navigate evolving interests, developing identities, and financial realities,” said Buckwald. 

“The introduction of Late Decision reflects our ongoing commitment to make the college admissions process more accessible,” said President Walker.

Reflecting this commitment, the College is targeting fifteen seats for students admitted in Late Decision, including proportional need- and merit-based financial aid. Just like in earlier admissions rounds, Bennington aims to meet demonstrated financial need at time of admission. Waitlist activity, which typically takes place around the same timeframe, will be managed separately from Late Decision. The College anticipates a similar acceptance rate for this new round as for other rounds. For Early Action and both rounds of Early Decision this cycle, the acceptance rate was 37 percent.