C
Average
Score: 47/100
Overall (traditional)
D
Outcome Rating
40/100 · earnings-weighted

Bethel University

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 McKenzie, Tennessee 38201
ℹ️
Rating Context: ⚠️ Limited Data Available. Some metrics for this institution are incomplete or unavailable, which may affect the overall grade. Consider researching this school directly for the most current information.

Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the Outcomes Score (C+) which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 35%
Outcomes
C+
55/100
Affordability
D
41/100
Resources
C
46/100
Experience
B
73/100
Prestige
F
23/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

2,974
Total Enrollment
35%
Graduation Rate
59%
Retention Rate
17.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
97%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Bethel University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$47,482
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$38,990
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$27,249
Median debt at graduation
35.1%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
972
Average SAT
18
Median ACT
31.7%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 57% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 37th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (TN wage index 0.84). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Bethel University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$71,315$80,794-9%#692 of 966#481$22,500
Homeland Security$78,275$79,079+13%#5 of 33#4$28,709
Criminal Justice and Corrections$54,207$62,967+14%#84 of 660#37$28,908
Business Administration, Management and Operations$49,106$60,102-12%#793 of 1176#603$31,866
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$31,638$48,730-11%#448 of 610#349$26,730

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Bethel University Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $193,748
  • Avg rent near campus: $837/mo — vs ~$784/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 38258 (5.0% cap, Trezevant)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

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🏆 Where Bethel University Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#22
Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management
of 24 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $16,870 $16,870
Room $7,055
Board $4,036
Total Cost (On-Campus) $31,913 $31,913

Financial Aid

93%
Receive Any Aid
55%
Receive Pell Grants
63%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 112 grads/yr Organizational Leadership 100 grads/yr Business/Commerce, General 73 grads/yr Physician Assistant 50 grads/yr Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management 45 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 31 grads/yr General Studies 30 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration 23 grads/yr Psychology, General 14 grads/yr Education, General 14 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 12 grads/yr Exercise Science and Kinesiology 12 grads/yr Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 11 grads/yr Accounting and Business/Management 8 grads/yr Health and Wellness, General 8 grads/yr Management Information Systems, General 7 grads/yr Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 7 grads/yr Elementary Education and Teaching 7 grads/yr Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies 5 grads/yr Human Services, General 4 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Bethel University's top programs commonly pursue.

First-line supervisors of police and detectives
$106k/yr 160,800 jobs
First-line supervisors of correctional officers
$76k/yr 57,100 jobs
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
$71k/yr 16,200 jobs
Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other
$60k/yr 83,200 jobs
Human resources managers
$140k/yr 221,900 jobs
Managers, all other
$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs
Training and development managers
$127k/yr 46,400 jobs
Fundraising managers
$123k/yr 45,700 jobs

Student Demographics

2,974
Total Students
53%
Women
48%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 50%
Hispanic 8%
Black 28%
Asian 2%
Two or More 4%
Non-Resident 3%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 39%
Hybrid (Some Online) 17%
Fully Online 44%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 48%
25-64 (Adult) 19%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Bethel University?
Bethel University has an acceptance rate of 97%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Bethel University?
Tuition at Bethel University is $16,870 for in-state students and $16,870 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at Bethel University?
The graduation rate at Bethel University is 35%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Bethel University a good school?
Bethel University has a Repit College Score of 47/100 (Grade: C). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (D): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend Bethel University?
Bethel University has a total enrollment of 2,974 students.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Bethel University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology