National university
#4 Best colleges in the Minneapolis–St. Paul areaBethel University
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $28,556 a year
Median debt at graduation: $21,500 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for social work in America#82 of 605
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#134 of 950
- Best colleges for nursing in America#162 of 1,068
- Best colleges for accounting in America#173 of 1,132
- Best colleges for business in America#272 of 1,563
- Best colleges for education in America#231 of 1,318
Show 13 more
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#228 of 1,238
- Best colleges for finance in America#146 of 744
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#365 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#294 of 1,418
- Best colleges in America#387 of 1,829
- Best colleges for English in America#278 of 1,283
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#295 of 1,358
- Best test-optional colleges in America#337 of 1,481
- Best colleges for history in America#291 of 1,247
- Best colleges for art and design in America#277 of 1,187
- Best colleges in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area#4 of 17
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#290 of 1,215
- Best mid-size colleges in America#160 of 667
In Minnesota
- Best colleges for business in Minnesota#4 of 34
- Best colleges for accounting in Minnesota#4 of 30
- Best colleges for finance in Minnesota#3 of 20
- Best colleges for nursing in Minnesota#4 of 25
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in Minnesota#5 of 29
- Best colleges in Minnesota#7 of 40
Show 16 more
- Best colleges for social work in Minnesota#3 of 16
- Best colleges for education in Minnesota#6 of 32
- Best colleges for engineering in Minnesota#3 of 15
- Best test-optional colleges in Minnesota#7 of 35
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in Minnesota#5 of 24
- Best colleges for psychology in Minnesota#7 of 32
- Best colleges for art and design in Minnesota#7 of 30
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Minnesota#7 of 30
- Best colleges for English in Minnesota#7 of 30
- Best colleges for history in Minnesota#7 of 28
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Minnesota#10 of 40
- Best colleges for mathematics in Minnesota#7 of 27
- Best colleges for music in Minnesota#7 of 27
- Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in Minnesota#5 of 19
- Best colleges for chemistry in Minnesota#7 of 26
- Best mid-size colleges in Minnesota#5 of 18
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.71%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.86%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,249 · ACT 25
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.14 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$9,737
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $58,569 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 2,629 |
|---|---|
| Men and women Undergraduates, fall 2023 (College Scorecard) | Men 45% · Women 55% |
| First-generation students Share of students who are first-generation, by the College Scorecard’s definition | 19% |
| First-year students from another state Of first-time students whose home is a U.S. state, fall 2023 (IPEDS) | 16% |
| Total students | 3,521 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $28,556 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $58,569 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $21,500 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 71% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients Finishing within 6 years (College Scorecard) | 59% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students Finishing within 6 years (College Scorecard) | 55% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years Borrowers who repaid at least $1 of principal within 3 years (College Scorecard) | 79% |
| First-year retention | 86% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $63,764 |
| Admission rate | 88% |
| Application fee Undergraduate application fee, 2023–24 (IPEDS) | No application fee |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 19% |
| Average SAT | 1249 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 610–650 |
| SAT math | 580–650 |
| ACT composite | 22–28 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Good (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Human resources | |
| Computing and information science | |
| Nursing | |
| Physics | |
| Accounting | |
| Business administration | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| Allied health | |
| Biology | |
| Psychology | |
| Social work | |
| Communication studies | |
| Social sciences | |
| Secondary education | |
| Teacher education |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Bible/Biblical Studies, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Counseling and mental health, Data Science, Design, Digital Humanities and Textual Studies, Economics, Electrical engineering, Engineering Science, English, Ethnic and gender studies, Finance, Fine arts, History, Interdisciplinary studies, International relations, Journalism, Linguistics, Management information systems, Mathematics, Mechanical engineering, Music, Natural resources and conservation, Neuroscience, Other theology and religious vocations, Pastoral counseling, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Philosophy, Political science, Rehabilitation and therapy, Romance languages, Sociology, Special education, Teaching English as a second language, Theatre, Writing and rhetoric.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Business | |
| Health professions | |
| Education | |
| Biology | |
| Psychology |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | Suburb |
| Part-time undergraduates | 12% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 10% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $12,170 |
| Sports | NCAA Division III · Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| ROTC | Army · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 14 to 1 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 36%Of instructional faculty, fall 2023 (College Scorecard) |
| Endowment per student | $32,500Endowment at the end of fiscal year 2023, per full-time-equivalent student (IPEDS) |
| Dorm space | For about 60% of studentsCampus beds divided by undergraduate enrollment. Not how many students live on campus (IPEDS) |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)About 13 miles away in a straight line (OurAirports) |
| Town population | 307,2842020–2024 five-year estimate (U.S. Census Bureau) |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | St. PaulAbout 8 miles away in a straight line (U.S. Census Bureau) |
| Average temperature in January | 17°F1991–2020 normal, from VADNAIS LAKE, MN US, about 3 miles away (NOAA) |
| Average temperature in July | 74°F1991–2020 normal, from VADNAIS LAKE, MN US, about 3 miles away (NOAA) |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.56 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.56 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.00 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Bethel University’s Compass Score?
- Very good (grade B+). It ranks in the top 21% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Bethel University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $28,556 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Bethel University?
- Bethel University admitted 88% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Bethel University’s graduates do?
- 71% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $63,764; the median federal debt at graduation is $21,500.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 173160
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral/professional university
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Baptist
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Colleges like this one
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