Bethel University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It enrolls 1,871 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes79
Value30
Affordability17
Selectivity44
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 87.8%, Bethel University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
87.8%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1190 – 1300
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 28
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Bethel University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
12.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Bethel University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $28,556 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$28,556
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
19%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
44%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$44,226
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,170
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,550
Books & Supplies
$1,380
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,090
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,092
Total Cost of Attendance
$58,569
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$22,218
$30,001 – $48,000
$22,279
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,071
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,963
Over $110,000
$33,155
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$9,29425%percentile
$21,500Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,239
↓ $3,261
No Pell $18,272
↓ $3,228
Dependent students $19,500
↓ $2,000
Independent students $12,500
↓ $9,000
Female students $18,302
↓ $3,198
Male students $18,272
↓ $3,228
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,000, less than completers ($21,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
63% of full-time students who enrolled at Bethel University graduate within six years, and 86% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
63%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
86%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Bethel University earn a median of $63,764 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$63,764
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$46,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$61,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$43,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$52,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$54,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,000, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 97% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Bethel University is home to 1,871 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,871
Part-Time
12%
First-Generation
19%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 76.6%1,434
Hispanic 7.2%135
Black 6.3%117
Asian 5.0%93
Other 3.9%73
International 0.1%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Bethel University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbSaint Paul, Minnesota
Housing
Strongly residential1,566 beds for 1,871 students
Adult Learners
10%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Bethel University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
63 distinct programs across
21 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bethel University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$141M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$70,296
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
142 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
55
39%
$77,800
Associate Professors
55
39%
$69,881
Assistant Professors
28
20%
$58,811
Instructors
4
3%
$53,228
Pros & Cons of Bethel University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Bethel University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Bethel University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bethel University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Bethel University.
Is Bethel University hard to get into?
Bethel University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 87.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at Bethel University?
Bethel University has an acceptance rate of 87.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Bethel University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bethel University scored between 1190 and 1300 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Bethel University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bethel University scored between 22 and 28 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Bethel University cost?
The average net price after aid at Bethel University is $28,556 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Bethel University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $63,764 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $28,556 per year. That's roughly 2.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Bethel University known for?
Bethel University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Nursing, Special Education. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Bethel University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Bethel University are $63,764, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Bethel University accredited?
Yes. Bethel University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Bethel University?
Bethel University enrolls 1,871 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Bethel University?
Bethel University graduates 63% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Bethel University a public or private college?
Bethel University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Bethel University located?
Bethel University is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
What programs does Bethel University offer?
Bethel University offers 63 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Nursing, Special Education.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Bethel University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bethel University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Minnesota
Other colleges in Minnesota share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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IT Administration
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