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Bethany College

Private nonprofit Lindsborg, KS · Rural · Plains · 100% data
B Selectivity B Diversity B- Earnings
Graduation Rate
32% F
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$49,694 B-
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$27,686 D
62% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
56% B
Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Earnings +22% vs avg
Graduation -44% vs avg
Net Price 62% vs avg

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 11.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $11.5 over 20 years.

11.5× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $11.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,160,792.

What The Data Says

  1. A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Earnings 22% above the national college median.

  3. Graduation of 32% — 44% below the national average.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $11.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Bethany College

Bethany College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate College
Enrollment
569
Setting
Rural
Designations
39
Primary Strengths
Education, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, Biology & Biomedical

Why students choose Bethany College

Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community
Strength in Education
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C-
Top 55% overall
B-
Earnings
$49,694 median
D+
Value
1.8× net price
D
Affordability
$27,686/yr net
F
Graduation
32% graduate
B
Selectivity
56% admit rate
B
Diversity
0.68 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Only 32% of students graduate from Bethany College, indicating a significant challenge in student retention. This figure highlights the importance of support systems and resources for students navigating their college experience. With an acceptance rate of 56%, the college attracts a diverse range of students but faces hurdles in helping them complete their degrees.

Bethany College’s graduates earn a median salary of $49,694 ten years after enrollment. However, the lack of available data on economic mobility and success rates for students from the bottom 20% raises questions about the college's effectiveness in promoting upward mobility among its graduates. It underscores the need for prospective students to consider the long-term implications of their college choice carefully.

The net price to attend Bethany College is $27,686, and the median debt for graduates stands at $23,250. Nearly half of the students receive Pell Grants, indicating a significant portion of the student body comes from low-income backgrounds. Those who thrive here are likely self-motivated individuals in fields like Business, Criminal Justice, Education, Biology, and Psychology, where they can leverage their education for better outcomes.

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.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Bethany College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Lindsborg, Kansas, Bethany College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 56% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 20. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.

Acceptance Rate
56%
Retention Rate
43%
ACT Midpoint
20
Full-Time Faculty
100%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$4,596
Student–Faculty Ratio
11:1
Diversity Index
0.68
First-Gen Students
33%
Applicants
3,521
Admitted
2,325

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

Published tuition at Bethany College is $33,000, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $27,686. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,561 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,250 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$33,000
Out-of-State
$33,000
Avg Net Price
$27,686
Median Debt
$23,250
Pell Grant Rate
48%
Federal Loan Rate
70%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$22,561
Family Income $30K–$48K
$24,432
Family Income $48K–$75K
$27,302
Family Income $110K+
$33,313

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 earn a median of $49,694, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$40,805
8 Years
$46,779
10 Years
$49,694
Debt-to-Earnings
0.47x
Earning > $25K
58%

Earnings Trajectory

$40,805 6yr $46,779 8yr $49,694 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (3)
2%
100% (3)
2%
100% (3)
2%
100% (3)
2%

How Bethany Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation32%Earnings 10yr$50KNet Price$28KRetention43%Median Debt$23KPell Grant Rate48%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$23K$0-30K$24K$30-48K$27K$48-75K$33K$110K+

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 $27,686/year ($110,744 total). Graduates earn $49,694 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,271,536 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,160,792 (11.5× your investment). The median debt is $23,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 32% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$110,744
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,271,536
Net Return
$1,160,792
ROI Multiple
11.5×
Cost Per Year
$27,686
Median Debt
$23,250
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
32%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$2,813,881
Investment Income
$-695,707

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Bethany College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Lindsborg, Kansas, Bethany College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 56% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 20. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bethany College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Bethany College is $33,000, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $27,686. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,561 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,250 in federal student loans.

Is Bethany College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Bethany College earn a median of $49,694, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Bethany College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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