At $28,439/yr net price, Bethel University graduates earn $63,764/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $29,764/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $28,439 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $113,756 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,764/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$29,764/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.8 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 75.2% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $21,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $22,031/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,796/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,279/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,603/yr |
| $110,001+ | $33,418/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Master | $101,406 | $74,078 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $99,325 | $48,091 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Doctoral | $84,653 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $80,858 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $66,964 | $22,500 |
| Human Resources Management and Services. | Master | $59,124 | $37,584 |
| Human Resources Management and Services. | Bachelor | $57,318 | $25,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $54,869 | |
| Education, General. | Master | $53,775 | $23,241 |
| Special Education and Teaching. | Master | $52,733 |
The Risk Factor
75.2% of students at Bethel University graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 25% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Bethel University gives you a solid but uneven financial return. Your median debt at graduation sits below the earnings you can expect ten years out, and a 75% grad rate paired with 87% retention means most people who start actually finish. That combination keeps the risk lower than at schools where students borrow and then drop out.
Nursing is the clear winner here. It pays the most of any program and carries debt in line with what you'll earn, so the loans make sense. Accounting and human resources also land in respectable territory. Business administration is where the math gets shakier: you take on the same debt as nursing students but earn nearly $20,000 less per year. Teacher education pays the least of any program listed, under $40,000, and while the debt is the lowest too, the return barely clears what the degree costs.
The specific risk at Bethel is picking a low-paying major at a private-school price. The sticker net price runs high, and a teaching or general business degree can leave you paying private-college tuition for public-college earnings. If you're aiming for one of those fields, the numbers only work if you keep borrowing tight.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay roughly $21,000, and that figure climbs steadily as income rises, topping $33,000 once you're over $110,000. Middle and upper-income families carry most of the real cost here.
Bethel fits you if you're headed into nursing, accounting, or HR, or if your family income is under $48,000. Look elsewhere if you want a business or education degree and would be paying the full sticker price to get it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bethel University worth the cost?
Bethel University's value depends heavily on your program choice. Health and nursing graduates earn strong salaries ($99,000-$101,000), while the overall 10-year earnings of $63,764 barely justify the $28,439 annual cost for other majors.
What are the best paying majors at Bethel University?
Allied health diagnostic programs and nursing lead with salaries over $99,000 annually. Educational administration ($84,653) and business management ($80,858) also provide decent returns, but other programs may struggle to justify the tuition cost.
How much student debt do Bethel University graduates have?
Bethel graduates leave with a median debt of $21,500, which is manageable for high-earning health programs but could be problematic for lower-paying majors. The 75% graduation rate means one in four students don't finish their degree.
Does Bethel University provide good financial aid?
With a net price of $28,439 after aid, Bethel's costs remain high relative to typical graduate earnings of $63,764. The financial aid brings down sticker price but doesn't make most programs a strong financial investment.