Bethune-Cookman University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Daytona Beach, Florida. It enrolls 2,732 students (a mid-sized 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.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
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
Outcomes7
Value66
Affordability93
Selectivity13
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 88.2%, Bethune-Cookman University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
88.2%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
830 – 990
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
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 Bethune-Cookman University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
15.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Bethune-Cookman University 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 $12,030 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,030
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
78%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
82%
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
$14,794
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,396
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,396
Books & Supplies
$1,450
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,300
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,650
Total Cost of Attendance
$29,764
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
$10,896
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,487
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,346
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,882
Over $110,000
$18,654
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
$9,50025%percentile
$31,000Medianpercentile
$34,43975%percentile
$46,25090%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 $24,000
↓ $7,000
No Pell $13,896
↓ $17,104
Dependent students $22,509
↓ $8,491
Independent students $22,000
↓ $9,000
Female students $24,000
↓ $7,000
Male students $20,000
↓ $11,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($31,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
34% of full-time students who enrolled at Bethune-Cookman University graduate within six years, and 59% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
34%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
59%
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 Bethune-Cookman University earn a median of $38,518 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,518
Earning > $25K
63%
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
$31,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$33,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$31,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$32,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$33,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
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 ↑
32.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 53% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Bethune-Cookman University is home to 2,732 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 42% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,732
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
42%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 54.3%1,483
Hispanic 5.3%146
International 1.9%51
Other 1.5%40
White 0.2%5
Asian 0.0%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Bethune-Cookman University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityDaytona Beach, Florida
Housing
Strongly residential2,200 beds for 2,732 students
Adult Learners
4%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Bethune-Cookman University offers
a varied set of programs:
31 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 Bethune-Cookman University is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$128M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$65,112
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
137 instructional faculty across 4 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
20
15%
$76,185
Associate Professors
26
19%
$67,048
Assistant Professors
64
47%
$67,329
Instructors
27
20%
$49,791
Pros & Cons of Bethune-Cookman University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Bethune-Cookman University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Higher than typical student debt at graduation
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Bethune-Cookman University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bethune-Cookman University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Bethune-Cookman University.
Is Bethune-Cookman University hard to get into?
Bethune-Cookman University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 88.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at Bethune-Cookman University?
Bethune-Cookman University has an acceptance rate of 88.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Bethune-Cookman University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bethune-Cookman University scored between 830 and 990 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Bethune-Cookman University cost?
The average net price after aid at Bethune-Cookman University is $12,030 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Bethune-Cookman University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,518 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,030 per year. That's roughly 3.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Bethune-Cookman University known for?
Bethune-Cookman University is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Psychology, Criminal Justice. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Bethune-Cookman University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Bethune-Cookman University are $38,518, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Bethune-Cookman University accredited?
Yes. Bethune-Cookman University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Bethune-Cookman University?
Bethune-Cookman University enrolls 2,732 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Bethune-Cookman University?
Bethune-Cookman University graduates 34% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Bethune-Cookman University a public or private college?
Bethune-Cookman University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Bethune-Cookman University located?
Bethune-Cookman University is located in Daytona Beach, Florida.
What programs does Bethune-Cookman University offer?
Bethune-Cookman University offers 31 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Psychology, Criminal Justice.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Bethune-Cookman University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bethune-Cookman University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
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Rankings That Feature Bethune-Cookman University
Bethune-Cookman University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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93 UCD Score
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$1,471 Lowest Net
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89 UCD Score
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93 UCD Score
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$4,815 Lowest Net
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