Bethune-Cookman University
- Graduation Rate
- 29% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,518 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $12,030 B-
- 30% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 88% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 24.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $24.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $24.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,131,223.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 29% — 49% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $24.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Bethune-Cookman University
Bethune-Cookman 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 Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 2,732
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HBCU · 71
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Psychology, Business & Marketing, Communications
Why students choose Bethune-Cookman University
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
Accessible — admits about 88% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 830–990. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,030 a year after grants and scholarships — 30% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,518 ten years after enrolling — 6% below the typical college, against $31,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.95 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Nearly 80% of students at Bethune-Cookman University receive Pell Grants, highlighting its commitment to accessibility for low-income families. With an acceptance rate of 88%, the university welcomes a diverse range of students eager to pursue higher education.
However, outcomes indicate significant challenges. The graduation rate stands at just 29%, which raises questions about student support and retention. While specific mobility data is unavailable, the 10-year earnings average of $38,518 suggests that graduates may face hurdles in achieving economic advancement.
Financially, students can expect a net price of $12,030 after aid, but the median debt of $31,000 can be burdensome. Those who thrive here typically come from diverse backgrounds and are passionate about programs in humanities, business, psychology, communications, and criminal justice.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Bethune-Cookman University 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 Bethune-Cookman University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Bethune-Cookman University, located in Daytona Beach, Florida, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 88%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 880. The graduation rate is roughly 29%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Retention Rate
- 62%
- SAT Average
- 880
- ACT Midpoint
- 17
- SAT Range
- 830–990
- Full-Time Faculty
- 76%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,167
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.70
- First-Gen Students
- 42%
- Applicants
- 12,818
- Admitted
- 10,891
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 Bethune-Cookman University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bethune-Cookman University is $14,794, 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 $12,030. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,896 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $31,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $14,794
- Out-of-State
- $14,794
- Avg Net Price
- $12,030
- Median Debt
- $31,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 78%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 82%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,896
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,487
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,346
- Family Income $110K+
- $18,654
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 Bethune-Cookman University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Bethune-Cookman University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bethune-Cookman University report median earnings of $38,518, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $28,282
- 8 Years
- $33,935
- 10 Years
- $38,518
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.8x
- Earning > $25K
- 42%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (136)
- 14%
- 100% (136)
- 14%
- 100% (136)
- 14%
- 100% (136)
- 14%
How Bethune-Cookman 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 Bethune-Cookman University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Bethune-Cookman University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,030/year ($48,120 total). Graduates earn $38,518 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,179,343 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,131,223 (24.5× your investment). The median debt is $31,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 29% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $48,120
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,179,343
- Net Return
- $1,131,223
- ROI Multiple
- 24.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,030
- Median Debt
- $31,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 29%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-2,589,940
Top Programs
The fields Bethune-Cookman 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.
- Humanities 24%
- Psychology 18% $35,271 early-career
- Business & Marketing 16% $48,104 early-career
- Communications 8% $23,930 early-career
- Social Sciences 7%
- Criminal Justice 6% $30,854 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Bethune-Cookman University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bethune-Cookman University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Bethune-Cookman University, located in Daytona Beach, Florida, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 88%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 880. The graduation rate is roughly 29%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bethune-Cookman University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bethune-Cookman University is $14,794, 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 $12,030. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,896 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $31,000 in federal student loans.
Is Bethune-Cookman University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bethune-Cookman University report median earnings of $38,518, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Bethune-Cookman University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Bethune-Cookman University. Its economic connectedness score is 0.95, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Bethune-Cookman University.
- Baker CollegeOwosso, MI · Close peer33% grad $35,833 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- South Carolina State UniversityOrangeburg, SC · Close peer33% grad $38,262 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Auburn University at MontgomeryMontgomery, AL · Close peer34% grad $44,391 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- College of Coastal GeorgiaBrunswick, GA · Close peer26% grad $39,318 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Gordon State CollegeBarnesville, GA · Close peer19% grad $37,871 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Francis Marion UniversityFlorence, SC · Close peer43% grad $43,888 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Bethune-Cookman University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Bethune-Cookman University. Its economic connectedness score is 0.95, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note