Bentley University is committed to providing a transformative educational experience to all students, and we are especially proud of our efforts to attract and retain students who are the first in their families to attain a degree in higher education. We have a variety of programs specifically targeted to first-generation college students (which we define as students whose parents or guardians have not attained a bachelor’s degree at any college or university). We know that first-generation college students are ready to take on business and society’s most pressing challenges, and Bentley will give them the tools they need to succeed.
Programs
BentleyFirst Program
This program, for Massachusetts residents who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, provides a scholarship that meets the difference between the tuition cost at Bentley and UMass Amherst, offering a private university education for the price of a state institution. This program does not require a separate application.
FirstGen Presidential Fellows
FirstGen Presidential Fellows is a prestigious leadership-development program for incoming first-generation college students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Throughout their undergraduate education, fellows engage in an array of offerings to develop academically, professionally and personally. The financial aid package for this program covers the full estimated cost of attendance.
hear from first generation students
‘It’s a Life Changer’
Brian Williams ’24 excelled in high school, which put him on Bentley’s radar when choosing its first class of FirstGen Presidential Fellows.
A Culture of Belonging
Ysanel Luciano ’22, a first-generation student majoring in Management with a concentration in Human Resources (HR) Management, shares how inclusion builds community.
Resources for First-Generation College Students at Bentley
First-Generation Defined Community