Quallege is excited to welcome Bentley University as its newest addition in our mission to expand global learning opportunities. In a conversation with Sean Ferguson, VP of Strategy and Innovation, we explored the university’s distinct approach to education and its remarkable success in student outcomes.

The university’s brand platform is summed up by its tagline: “Be a Force”. As Ferguson explained, this speaks to Bentley’s core belief that students can make a difference, both big and small, and can positively impact the world by sitting “at that intersection of business and society.” He noted that Bentley fosters a culture of “wanting to give back” and “making sure whatever we’re doing is for the greater good.”

Bentley’s philosophy centers on producing tangible results for its students, a fact evident in its impressive outcomes-based rankings. While Bentley’s size means it doesn’t appear in the national US News rankings, Ferguson highlighted that when the focus is on student success, the university truly excels.

He pointed to a history of strong performance in career and ROI rankings, noting, “Whenever the ranking focuses on outcomes from a career perspective, near, medium, and long term, we always do well.” He proudly shared that in recent publications, Bentley was ranked:

• #12 in the most recent Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings.
• #8 in the New York Times for 10-year ROI for alumni.
• #8 by the Georgetown Center for Workforce and Employability for 20-year ROI.

Ferguson emphasized that these rankings, particularly those from institutions like Georgetown, are incredibly “validating” and directly “justify the impact of our students and alumni.”

Ferguson detailed the key differentiator for Bentley: its Teacher-Scholar model. Unlike larger research institutions, “the student is much more at the center of the faculty’s kind of role here,” which leads to faculty who are “much more able to relate and engage in order to ensure that our students have the most impactful learning experience.”

The university’s strategic focus on the intersection of technology and business is also a key strength. Ferguson noted that Bentley is known for offering “technology for the application for business transformation.” This includes their large Computer Information Systems faculty and highly-regarded programs like the Masters of Human Factors and Information Design, which sit at the “interface of humans and machines.”

Furthermore, all of Bentley’s MBA programs now have STEM pathways, which “helps increase the ROI for students who come here” and highlights the institution’s forward-looking curriculum.

With students from over 30 countries, international students are vital to Bentley’s community, bringing a “diverse cultural perspectives and languages.” Ferguson highlighted their significant contributions, pointing out that all of the grad school student body presidents have been international, which “speaks to the inclusiveness and the environment that we’ve created here at Bentley University for international students to flourish.”

He also gave a direct, powerful statement on the unmatched value of a US education in career development, especially for international students: “There’s no employment market in the world like the US… people look at talent as an investment or an enabler to really achieve the upside of their economic prosperity.” This inherent value, he argued, far outweighs the higher initial cost, especially when considering the “escalation potential that’s only available in the United States.”

We’re incredibly proud to partner with Bentley University and their team. Their commitment to student success, their innovative approach to education, and their willingness to collaborate with a “no stone left unturned” thoroughness is a testament to the partnership we are building. The team’s partnership-first mindset is a perfect fit, and we are confident that together, we can achieve something special in the international education space.