Bethel University is a private research university in Mishawaka, Indiana, enrolling about 1,008 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 97.66% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $48,860 among students who received federal aid.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $34,600
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $18,610 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: 97.66% Moderate Selectivity
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,008 94.3% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 53.22%
  • Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
  • First-Generation Students: 32.5%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 4.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price increase of 6.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 100.0%
  • Average SAT Score: 1014
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,185
  • Applicants (IPEDS): 833
  • Room & Board: $11,140 annual estimate

Bethel University: what the data shows

Common questions about Bethel University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is Bethel University?

Bethel University is located in Mishawaka, IN (ZIP 46545-5591).

NCES locale classification: Town.

Is Bethel University public or private?

Bethel University is a Private Non-profit institution.

How much does Bethel University cost?

Published tuition: $34,600.

Average net price after aid: $18,610.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$17,580
$30,001–$48,000$12,572
$48,001–$75,000$12,673
$75,001–$110,000$18,645
$110,001+$25,871

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $138,400.

How hard is it to get into Bethel University?

Admission rate: 97.66%.

Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1014.

Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.

How big is Bethel University?

Total enrollment: 1,008 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 1,185 students.

Graduate enrollment: 102 students.

About 94% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at Bethel University?

150%-time completion rate: 53.22%.

First-year retention: 72.4%.

What do graduates of Bethel University earn?

Median earnings: $44,271 six years after entry; $48,860 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $25,000.

33.49% of students receive Pell grants.

What is Bethel University known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is Bethel University a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 97.66%; completion rate 53.22%; median earnings $48,860 at 10 years; net price $18,610. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$34,600
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Bethel University was $34,600.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$18,610
2024 Value

In 2024 Bethel University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $18,610.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$74,440 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$18,610 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$138,400 4-Year Tuition

$11,140 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$1,230 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$46,970 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$187,880 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for Bethel University.

Financial Aid by Income Level

33.49% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

45.78% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Bethel University was 0.00%.

Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.

Tuition tracker

Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Bethel University in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 20132023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$24,970$24,970$17,730
2014$25,830$25,830$17,891
2015$26,590$26,590$16,996
2016$27,390$27,390$19,249
2017$28,030$28,030$18,876
2018$28,590$28,590$19,496
2019$29,170$29,170$17,558
2020$29,790$29,790$18,542
2021$30,830$30,830$17,597
2022$32,040$32,040$18,468
2023$33,320$33,320$19,726

Sticker tuition and net price over time

Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.

College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).

Net price by family income

Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).

Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate

97.66% Acceptance Rate

833 Total Applicants

822 Students Admitted

226 First-Time Students Enrolled

27.49% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)

This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.

Acceptance rate compared to national average.

Test Scores

SAT Average: 1014

Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.

Academic Requirements

Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4

Estimated Median GPA: 3.20

Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.

Estimated GPA and test score ranges.

Enrollment & Student Demographics

Bethel University reported total enrollment of about 1,008 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 44% male and 56% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (66.2%), Hispanic or Latino (11.5%), and Non-Resident Alien (10.0%). About 33.49% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 32.5% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

94.3% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Bethel University in 2024 is 1,008 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,185 students. Graduate enrollment is about 102 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

72.4%
2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.

Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 66.2%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

41.44% 100% Completion Time

53.22% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 41.44% of students graduating from Bethel University completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Business Administration and Management, General: 63% male / 37% female
  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 9% male / 91% female
  • Lay Ministry: 57% male / 43% female

IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).

Completions by Race & Ethnicity

Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.

Summed across program completion records in our extract.

ROI & Programs

Financial value and program information for Bethel University.

Return on Investment

$25,000 Median Student Debt

$48,860 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

51.17% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

556.37% Return on Investment

5.1 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for Bethel University.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 49 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Business Administration and Management, General: 49 completions

2. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 47 completions

3. Lay Ministry: 23 completions

4. Organizational Leadership: 19 completions

5. Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 18 completions

6. Business/Commerce, General: 12 completions

7. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 9 completions

8. Elementary Education and Teaching: 8 completions

9. Sign Language Interpretation and Translation: 8 completions

Most popular programs at Bethel University.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for Bethel University graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Bethel University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $6,402
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,969

Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.

Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.

About

Bethel University is a private non-profit institution located in Mishawaka, IN, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Lay Ministry. Enrollment is approximately 1,008 students. Student body composition includes White (66.2%), Hispanic or Latino (11.5%), Non-Resident Alien (10.0%). The admission rate is 97.66%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1014. The 150%-time completion rate is 53.22%. Approximately 33.49% of students receive Pell Grants. About 32.5% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Private Non-profit

Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus

Location

Mishawaka, IN 46545-5591

Region: Great Lakes

Insights and Analysis

Bethel University provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Bethel University located?

Bethel University is located in Mishawaka, IN.

What is Bethel University's acceptance rate?

The acceptance rate at Bethel University is 97.7% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 833 applicants and 822 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.

How much does Bethel University cost?

Reported tuition is $34,600 and average net price is $18,610 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,140 annually.

What is the student body demographics at Bethel University?

Bethel University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,185 students, White (66.2%), Hispanic or Latino (11.5%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend Bethel University?

About 32.5% of students at Bethel University are first-generation college students.

What test scores do students need for Bethel University?

Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Bethel University reports midpoint SAT about 1014.

What do graduates of Bethel University earn?

Median earnings are $44,271 six years after entry and $48,860 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at Bethel University?

The 150%-time completion rate is 53.2% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do Bethel University students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,000.

Is Bethel University public or private?

Bethel University is a private nonprofit institution located in Mishawaka, IN.

Is Bethel University an HBCU?

No. Bethel University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is Bethel University a tribal college?

No. Bethel University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • Great Lakes regional profile
  • All state profiles
  • Regional profiles
  • National benchmarks
  • School directory
  • All schools in Indiana
  • Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

    Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

    Methodology

    Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.

    All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.