Bethany College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Bethany, West Virginia. It enrolls 614 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
58/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes17
Value38
Affordability72
Selectivity53
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 58.8%, Bethany College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
58.8%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Bethany College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
34.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Bethany College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $18,605 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$18,605
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
51%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
75%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$36,765
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,210
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,760
Books & Supplies
$740
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,854
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,854
Total Cost of Attendance
$50,758
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$14,315
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,239
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,641
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,434
Over $110,000
$27,214
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$33,80075%percentile
$43,63090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $22,875
↓ $4,125
No Pell $24,626
↓ $2,374
Dependent students $23,750
↓ $3,250
Independent students $23,000
↓ $4,000
Female students $25,125
↓ $1,875
Male students $22,750
↓ $4,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
32% of full-time students who enrolled at Bethany College graduate within six years, and 58% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
32%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
58%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Bethany College earn a median of $44,512 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,512
Earning > $25K
71%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$39,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$50,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$45,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,100, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
24.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Bethany College is home to 614 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 34% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
614
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
34%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 44.1%271
Black 15.5%95
International 7.7%47
Hispanic 5.4%33
Other 3.8%23
Asian 0.2%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Bethany College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeBethany, West Virginia
Housing
Strongly residential720 beds for 614 students
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Bethany College offers
a varied set of programs:
27 distinct programs across
17 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bethany College is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$34M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$56,766
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
43 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
17
40%
$57,108
Associate Professors
7
16%
$63,002
Assistant Professors
19
44%
$54,162
Pros & Cons of Bethany College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Bethany College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Bethany College is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bethany College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Bethany College.
Is Bethany College hard to get into?
Admissions at Bethany College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 58.8%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Bethany College?
Bethany College has an acceptance rate of 58.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Bethany College cost?
The average net price after aid at Bethany College is $18,605 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Bethany College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,512 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,605 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Bethany College known for?
Bethany College is best known for its programs in Psychology, Teaching Specific Subjects, Communication & Media. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Bethany College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Bethany College are $44,512, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Bethany College accredited?
Yes. Bethany College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Bethany College?
Bethany College enrolls 614 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Bethany College?
Bethany College graduates 32% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Bethany College a public or private college?
Bethany College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Bethany College located?
Bethany College is located in Bethany, West Virginia.
What programs does Bethany College offer?
Bethany College offers 27 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Teaching Specific Subjects, Communication & Media.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Bethany College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bethany College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in West Virginia
Other colleges in West Virginia share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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