Bethany Lutheran College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Mankato, Minnesota. It enrolls 669 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
60/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes46
Value32
Affordability37
Selectivity68
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 39%, Bethany Lutheran College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
39%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1040 – 1180
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
21 – 26
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Bethany Lutheran College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
21.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Bethany Lutheran 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 $20,148 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,148
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
22%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
44%
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
$31,360
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,620
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,620
Books & Supplies
$800
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,300
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,300
Total Cost of Attendance
$41,013
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
$12,571
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,564
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,233
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,099
Over $110,000
$24,961
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.
$3,50010%percentile
$8,00025%percentile
$23,000Medianpercentile
$25,81275%percentile
$28,81290%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 $16,000
↓ $7,000
No Pell $15,750
↓ $7,250
Female students $14,250
↓ $8,750
Male students $17,249
↓ $5,751
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($23,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
55% of full-time students who enrolled at Bethany Lutheran College graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
55%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
76%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Bethany Lutheran College earn a median of $46,110 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$46,110
Earning > $25K
75%
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
$30,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$39,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$36,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$37,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $16,000, about 34% 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 ↑
12.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 92% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Bethany Lutheran College is home to 669 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
669
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
—
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 66.1%442
International 19.9%133
Hispanic 5.8%39
Other 3.1%21
Black 3.1%21
Asian 1.2%8
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Bethany Lutheran College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityMankato, Minnesota
Housing
Strongly residential497 beds for 669 students
Adult Learners
3%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Bethany Lutheran College offers
a varied set of programs:
26 distinct programs across
16 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 Lutheran College is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$88M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$65,320
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
40 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
12
30%
$72,946
Associate Professors
17
43%
$63,007
Assistant Professors
11
28%
$59,522
Pros & Cons of Bethany Lutheran College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Bethany Lutheran College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Bethany Lutheran College is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bethany Lutheran College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Bethany Lutheran College.
Is Bethany Lutheran College hard to get into?
Bethany Lutheran College is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 39%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Bethany Lutheran College?
Bethany Lutheran College has an acceptance rate of 39%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Bethany Lutheran College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bethany Lutheran College scored between 1040 and 1180 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Bethany Lutheran College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bethany Lutheran College scored between 21 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Bethany Lutheran College cost?
The average net price after aid at Bethany Lutheran College is $20,148 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Bethany Lutheran College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $46,110 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,148 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Bethany Lutheran College known for?
Bethany Lutheran College is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Physiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Bethany Lutheran College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Bethany Lutheran College are $46,110, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Bethany Lutheran College accredited?
Yes. Bethany Lutheran College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Bethany Lutheran College?
Bethany Lutheran College enrolls 669 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Bethany Lutheran College?
Bethany Lutheran College graduates 55% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Bethany Lutheran College a public or private college?
Bethany Lutheran College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Bethany Lutheran College located?
Bethany Lutheran College is located in Mankato, Minnesota.
What programs does Bethany Lutheran College offer?
Bethany Lutheran College offers 26 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Physiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Bethany Lutheran College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bethany Lutheran College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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