Liberal Arts and Sciences: Bentley University vs The University of Texas at Austin

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
Bentley University
Waltham, MA
In-State
3.3x
$232,600 tuition
12.7x
$46,712 tuition
Out-of-State
3.3x
$232,600 tuition
3.5x
$171,112 tuition
$774,864 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit
$592,022 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

Bentley University The University of Texas at Austin
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 3.3x 12.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.3x 3.5x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $232,600 $46,712
Year 1 Earnings $72,333 $45,243
10-Year Earnings $775K $592K
Median Debt $26,000 $18,625
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 4.3 months 4.9 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 37/100 43/100
Acceptance Rate 48.4% 29.1%

Both programs have low AI automation risk (0% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates.

Bentley University The University of Texas at Austin
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $232,600 $46,712
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $232,600 $171,112
10-Year Projected Earnings $775K $592K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 3.3x 12.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.3x 3.5x
5-Year Salary Growth +43% +45%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Liberal Arts and Sciences (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Bentley University The University of Texas at Austin
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $775K $775K $750K $592K $592K $567K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 3.3x 3.3x 3.2x 12.7x 12.7x 12.1x
DegreeWorth Score 36 37 38 42 43 45

For the full AI analysis of Liberal Arts and Sciences career paths, see the Bentley University or The University of Texas at Austin program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$185,888
The University of Texas at Austin saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$27,090/yr
Bentley University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
3.3x / 12.7x
Out-of-state: 3.3x / 3.5x

Career Paths

Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490 13,500 +1.8% 0%
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Explore Each Program

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Liberal Arts and Sciences Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Liberal Arts and Sciences: Bentley University or The University of Texas at Austin?
Bentley University scores 37/100 while The University of Texas at Austin scores 43/100. The University of Texas at Austin has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Liberal Arts and Sciences?
Bentley University has an in-state earnings multiple of 3.3x vs The University of Texas at Austin's 12.7x. That means The University of Texas at Austin grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $185,888 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do Bentley University and The University of Texas at Austin compare on Liberal Arts and Sciences earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $72,333 at Bentley University vs $45,243 at The University of Texas at Austin. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $774,864 vs $592,022 — a difference of $182,842.
How much does Liberal Arts and Sciences cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $232,600 at Bentley University and $46,712 at The University of Texas at Austin. Median debt at graduation is $26,000 vs $18,625. Both programs lead to the same Liberal Arts and Sciences career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.