Bethel University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in McKenzie, Tennessee. It enrolls 1,547 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.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
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
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes8
Value80
Affordability66
Selectivity39
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 60.2%, Bethel University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
60.2%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
830 – 1120
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
15 – 21
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 ↑
6.9 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 $12,595 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,595
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
32%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
38%
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
$18,712
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,538
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,537
Books & Supplies
$1,295
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,920
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,920
Total Cost of Attendance
$31,203
Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$11,871
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,356
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,713
$75,001 – $110,000
$10,473
Over $110,000
$15,163
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.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$27,249Medianpercentile
$30,58375%percentile
$44,27090%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 $17,250
↓ $9,999
No Pell $15,507
↓ $11,742
Dependent students $11,000
↓ $16,249
Independent students $20,894
↓ $6,355
Female students $18,524
↓ $8,725
Male students $15,250
↓ $11,999
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,952, less than completers ($27,249), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
19% of full-time students who enrolled at Bethel University graduate within six years, and 56% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
19%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
56%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Bethel University earn a median of $47,482 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$47,482
Earning > $25K
75%
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
$38,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$49,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$32,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$43,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$55,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,100, about 23% 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 ↑
13.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 63% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Bethel University is home to 1,547 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,547
Part-Time
5%
First-Generation
51%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 50.5%781
Black 28.2%436
Hispanic 6.5%101
International 5.2%81
Other 4.3%67
Asian 0.9%14
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
Town: DistantMcKenzie, Tennessee
Housing
Mostly residential918 beds on campus
Adult Learners
19%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Bethel University offers
a varied set of programs:
28 distinct programs across
18 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 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$40M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$27,499
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
154 instructional faculty across 5 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
24
16%
$44,612
Associate Professors
34
22%
$39,213
Assistant Professors
30
19%
$34,402
Instructors
5
3%
$17,700
Lecturers
61
40%
$11,646
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
Below-average net price
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
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?
Admissions at Bethel University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 60.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Bethel University?
Bethel University has an acceptance rate of 60.2%, 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 830 and 1120 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 15 and 21 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 $12,595 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?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $47,482 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,595 per year. That's roughly 3.8x 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, Allied Health Diagnostic, Business. 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 $47,482, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Bethel University accredited?
Yes. Bethel University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Bethel University?
Bethel University enrolls 1,547 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Bethel University?
Bethel University graduates 19% 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 McKenzie, Tennessee.
What programs does Bethel University offer?
Bethel University offers 28 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Allied Health Diagnostic, Business.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Bethel University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bethel University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Tennessee
Other colleges in Tennessee 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.
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
Agricultural Business and Management
Teacher Education (K-12)
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