Bethany College
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Why Bethany College Matters
Bethany College is a private liberal arts college in Bethany, WV and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 614
- Setting
- Rural
- Designations
- 61
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Psychology, Social Sciences
Why students choose Bethany College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 59% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $18,605 a year after grants and scholarships — 9% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,512 ten years after enrolling — 9% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.52 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Bethany College, with an enrollment of 614 students, is a good fit for those who thrive in a close-knit, supportive environment. This private nonprofit school offers programs in Business & Marketing, Education, Psychology, Social Sciences, and Communications. If you’re looking for personalized attention from faculty and a community that feels like home, Bethany might be the place for you.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $44,512 within ten years. While the graduation rate sits at 47%, this number reflects the unique challenges some students face. Affordability is a key consideration here; with a net price of $18,605, many students, especially those receiving Pell Grants (51%), can find a manageable path.
When it comes to finances, the median debt for graduates is about $27,000. This means students are entering the workforce with a relatively low debt burden compared to some other institutions. Those who tend to thrive at Bethany are often those who appreciate a smaller campus and seek strong connections with faculty and peers. It's about finding your place in a community that cares.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Bethany College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bethany College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Bethany, West Virginia, Bethany College admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 59%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 22. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 47%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bethany College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Bethany College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $36,765 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $18,605 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,315 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $27,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Bethany College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bethany College report median earnings of $44,512; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Bethany Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Bethany College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Bethany College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,605/year ($74,420 total). Graduates earn $44,512 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,113,251 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,038,831 (15.0× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 47% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Bethany College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Bethany College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bethany College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
As a private institution in Bethany, West Virginia, Bethany College admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 59%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 22. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 47%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bethany College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Bethany College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $36,765 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $18,605 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,315 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $27,000.
Is Bethany College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Bethany College report median earnings of $44,512; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
How Connected Is Bethany College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Bethany College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.52 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Bethany College.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Bethany College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Bethany College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.52 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note