Massachusetts: Bentley University Leads The Nation In Student-Athlete Graduates

Waltham, Massachusetts, is the site of two major universities. One of them was recently recognized for an impressive statistic. Bentley University has the highest student-athlete graduate rate in the country.

In fact, it's the seventh year in a row Bentley has achieved this. "This marks the 10th straight year that Bentley has achieved a rate of 97% or better and the 13th consecutive year in which it has been above 90%," the Bentley University Newsroom explained.

In response to the nod, Bentley released the following statement. "We take great pride in being #1 in the ranking that matters most for our student-athletes – their academic success," said Paul Tesluk, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. "The commitment of our student-athletes to excelling not just on the playing field, the court, and the ice but also in the classroom is what sets Bentley apart."

In total, 19 varsity sports were evaluated according to the current NCAA academic success rate report. They explain that in compiling this division II information, "This rate was designed to approximate a true
student-centered measure of graduation (the student graduated from any four-year college within the six-year window) by essentially passing likely transfers from one college’s cohort to another’s cohort."

Of these, 14 sports reported a 100% graduation rate. Hockey, women's basketball, and baseball were among them, for example.

For athletes, part of the appeal to play their college sport at Bentley has to do with the state-of-the-art facilities. In 2018, the Bentley Arena opened. This is where their hockey teams play and take on major rivals like Boston University and Northeastern.

In addition, there is a football field, basketball arena, baseball field, and tennis courts on the lower campus. Furthermore, the athletic center also includes a massive gym for training. As for academics, a high-technology trading room can be found on the upper campus (the Hughey Center for Financial Services).

To date, Bentley University is one of just two schools achieving this impressive 99% student-athlete graduation rate.

Okay, let me get right to the point. I'm from New Jersey and grew up about twenty miles from Manhattan. So, I've been on the hunt for the perfect bagel ever since I moved to New England 12 years ago, and have been pleasantly surprised to find a few Massachusetts chain restaurants that actually have great bagels.

I'm also always on the run driving to various events or tournaments across the state. Regardless of what county I am in, a good bagel and coffee breakfast is something I am always looking for. Time is usually of the essence so my preference is typically a quick grab-and-go.

I've compiled a short list of bagel chains that really deliver. To clarify, this list excludes any local bakery or privately owned single bagel shop. Many of those remain among my favorite places to grab an everything, extra-toasted, and lightly buttered. In fact, this past weekend I even tripped across one that cooks a "New Jersey Pork Roll" bagel sandwich. The proper term is Taylor Ham, but back to the point.

The bagel restaurants selected here don't have to be specific to Massachusetts only. They do, however have multiple locations throughout the state. So, If I'm en route to an early morning lacrosse tournament in Devens and stop in to grab breakfast at a Newton franchise, I can expect their other location in Milton will have a similar offering, when I'm there for a sunrise hockey game in the winter.

In full transparency, Dunkin' Donuts is not on this list. With all due respect,  it's called Dunkin "Donuts" for a reason. Throw a sausage, egg, and cheese on one of their bagels and I'm OK, but I'm still not going out of my way specifically for their bagels. However, if this were a coffee chain feature, Dunkin' would be standing strong towards the top.

Without further ado, let's hop in the car, roll down Route 3, 24, or take a sharp exit off 93, and pull into a few Massachusetts small chain restaurants that are cooking up some great bagels.

There are five Gunther Tooties locations from Foxborough down to the South Shore. The owner of this chain worked in a New York bagel shop before taking over the first location in Pembroke. Moreover, a few of their spots offer drive-through. The "French Toast" bagel listed under the New York Style portion of the menu is always hard to resist.

Sometimes known as "The Bagel Shop" (like their Chatham location), this is a family operated chain business that has a significant presence in eastern Massachusetts and in Florida. Everything is baked fresh onsite. If you've ever wondered what Chocolate Chip Cookie flavored Iced Coffee takes like, they have 22 different variations here. And it tastes as good as it sounds.

There are five Cafe Fresh Bagel restaurants all within about 30 minutes of each other. This is my bagel breakfast sandwich spot. I  keep it simple when I go there, with a classic: bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel.

There are 14 Bruegger's in Massachusetts. Each one is a combination of its own character and consistent taste. The menu is the same everywhere, which is a good thing because their bagels contiguously deliver an essential bagel flavor whether you are in a Bruegger's on School St. in Boston or stopping in on your way to their Route 3a South Shore location on your way to the highway. Plus, their bagels are relatively small, so you can eat two.