Skip to content
CollegeRanker
Bethel University logo

Bethel University

Private nonprofit Mishawaka, IN · Urban · Great Lakes · 100% data
B- Earnings C Value C Graduation
Graduation Rate
55% C
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$48,860 B-
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$18,610 C-
Close to the national average
Acceptance Rate
98% F
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +20% vs avg
Graduation -4% vs avg
Net Price 9% vs avg

Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 14.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.7 over 20 years.

14.7× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $14.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,018,249.

What The Data Says

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

  2. Earnings 20% above the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $14.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Bethel University

Bethel University 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 University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
1,008
Setting
Urban
Designations
87
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Humanities, Education

Why students choose Bethel University

Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C
Top 53% overall
B-
Earnings
$48,860 median
C
Value
2.6× net price
C-
Affordability
$18,610/yr net
C
Graduation
55% graduate
F
Selectivity
98% admit rate
C-
Diversity
0.53 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

Bethel University has an acceptance rate of 98%, making it highly accessible for students seeking enrollment. With a total of 1,008 students, it fosters a close-knit community where individuals can engage deeply with their studies and peers.

The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data indicates that while specific mobility rates are not available, the overall earnings potential for graduates is promising. Alumni earn a median salary of $48,860 within ten years of graduation, which suggests a solid return on investment for their education.

The net price of attendance is $18,610, and the median student debt stands at $25,000. Students who thrive here typically pursue programs in Business, Health Professions, Humanities, Education, or Biology. With about 33% of students receiving Pell Grants, Bethel University supports those from lower-income backgrounds as they work toward their degrees.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Bethel University 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 Bethel University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Bethel University, located in Mishawaka, Indiana, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 98%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,014. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.

Acceptance Rate
98%
Retention Rate
72%
SAT Average
1014
SAT Range
900–1150
ACT Range
16–24
Full-Time Faculty
100%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,402
Student–Faculty Ratio
12:1
Diversity Index
0.53
First-Gen Students
32%
Applicants
752
Admitted
748

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 Bethel University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Bethel University is $34,600, 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 $18,610. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,580 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$34,600
Out-of-State
$34,600
Avg Net Price
$18,610
Median Debt
$25,000
Pell Grant Rate
33%
Federal Loan Rate
46%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$17,580
Family Income $30K–$48K
$12,572
Family Income $48K–$75K
$12,673
Family Income $110K+
$25,871

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Bethel University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Bethel University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Bethel University earn a median of $48,860, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$44,271
8 Years
$46,277
10 Years
$48,860
Debt-to-Earnings
0.51x
Earning > $25K
64%

Earnings Trajectory

$44,271 6yr $46,277 8yr $48,860 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (122)
58%
100% (122)
58%
100% (122)
58%
100% (122)
58%

How Bethel Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation55%Earnings 10yr$49KNet Price$19KRetention72%Median Debt$25KPell Grant Rate33%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$18K$0-30K$13K$30-48K$13K$48-75K$26K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Bethel University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Bethel University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,610/year ($74,440 total). Graduates earn $48,860 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,092,689 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,018,249 (14.7× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 55% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$74,440
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,092,689
Net Return
$1,018,249
ROI Multiple
14.7×
Cost Per Year
$18,610
Median Debt
$25,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
55%

Does It Change Lives?

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

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$3,938,049
Investment Income
$-1,505,682

Top Programs

The fields Bethel University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Bethel University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Bethel University, located in Mishawaka, Indiana, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 98%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,014. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bethel University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Bethel University is $34,600, 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 $18,610. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,580 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.

Is Bethel University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Bethel University earn a median of $48,860, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Bethel University.

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.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys