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Bethel University

Bethel University is based in the town of McKenzie, TN — a private campus in a small-town setting. The school reports a Cumberland Presbyterian affiliation in its federal filings.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$22,495

family income
under $30k

$21,013

$30–48k

$21,838

$48–75k

$21,825

$75–110k

$19,450

over $110k

These figures don't always rise with income — aid formulas can make a higher bracket cheaper.

Average net price

$12,5952023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Bethel University rose from $10,478 (2008) to $12,595 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$10,478
2009	$15,867
2010	$15,294
2011	$16,254
2012	$17,459
2013	$19,311
2014	$17,859
2015	$15,116
2016	$14,294
2017	$15,776
2018	$15,701
2019	$15,717
2020	$16,668
2021	$13,446
2022	$21,803
2023	$12,595

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$31,2032024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Bethel University rose from $24,318 (2009) to $31,203 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$24,318
2010	$23,049
2011	$23,255
2012	$25,127
2013	$26,864
2014	$29,309
2015	$29,416
2016	$28,832
2017	$29,608
2018	$30,838
2019	$31,005
2020	$30,992
2021	$31,078
2022	$26,998
2023	$32,270
2024	$31,203

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$7,860
2001	$8,180
2002	$8,180
2003	$9,360
2004	$9,630
2005	$10,016
2006	$11,126
2007	$11,690
2008	$12,242
2013	$15,714
2014	$15,714
2015	$15,714
2016	$15,764
2017	$16,552
2018	$16,552
2019	$17,010
2020	$17,010
2021	$17,482
2022	$17,482
2023	$18,168

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Bethel University reports published tuition of $18,712 in this record. Bethel University's $18,712 tuition excludes other attendance costs; aid can reduce the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Bethel University reports 1,547 undergraduates. This count does not measure class size or advising access.

35% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Bethel University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

35%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Bethel University rose from 25.2% (entered 1991) to 35% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	25.2%
1992 cohort	20.2%
1993 cohort	19.2%
1994 cohort	19.5%
1995 cohort	21.5%
1996 cohort	21.7%
1997 cohort	20%
1998 cohort	39%
1999 cohort	28.9%
2000 cohort	28.5%
2001 cohort	27%
2002 cohort	26.6%
2003 cohort	45%
2004 cohort	31.8%
2005 cohort	32%
2006 cohort	28.8%
2007 cohort	30.2%
2008 cohort	35.8%
2009 cohort	30.2%
2010 cohort	35.3%
2011 cohort	27.2%
2012 cohort	28.8%
2013 cohort	31.8%
2014 cohort	34.9%
2015 cohort	37.7%
2016 cohort	45%
2017 cohort	34.9%
2018 cohort	35%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$8,582	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$8,013	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$8,777	$3,484
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$10,500	$3,492
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$11,878	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$12,638	$3,938
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$13,366	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$14,348	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$14,903	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$15,372	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$15,250	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$16,063	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$17,750	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$18,750	$6,319
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$18,844	$5,634
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$21,875	$5,931
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$23,457	$7,244
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$24,932	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$27,125	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$28,956	$12,419
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$30,132	$10,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$29,216	$10,513
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$28,125	$10,750
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$27,249	$10,952

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$38,990

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$43,085

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$47,482

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Bethel University admitted 895 of 1,486 applicants in Fall 2024. The 60.2% rate describes that application pool.

60.2%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $18,168 tuition · 2023–24 1,547 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 830–11201600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

Bethel University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Bethel University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 410–570 and Math was 420–550 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 830–1120 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	410	460	570
SAT Math	420	460	550
ACT Composite	15	18	21

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Bethel University received 1,486 applications and admitted 895 (60.2%), with 288 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

60.2%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	63.2%
Fall 2002	63.4%
Fall 2003	49.2%
Fall 2004	59.1%
Fall 2005	60.3%
Fall 2006	55.7%
Fall 2007	56.8%
Fall 2008	50.2%
Fall 2009	53.6%
Fall 2010	52.4%
Fall 2011	48.2%
Fall 2012	55.3%
Fall 2013	51%
Fall 2014	57.4%
Fall 2015	84%
Fall 2016	66.5%
Fall 2017	93.6%
Fall 2018	66.5%
Fall 2019	90.3%
Fall 2020	76.1%
Fall 2021	50%
Fall 2022	88.8%
Fall 2023	97.2%
Fall 2024	60.2%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

830–1120Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	420	1240
Fall 2002	455	1365
Fall 2003	470	1411
Fall 2004	488	1462
Fall 2005	730	1060
Fall 2006	790	1000
Fall 2007	810	970
Fall 2008	750	970
Fall 2009	895	1095
Fall 2010	820	990
Fall 2011	830	1046
Fall 2012	930	1120
Fall 2013	835	1015
Fall 2015	785	1020
Fall 2016	795	1060
Fall 2017	890	1040
Fall 2018	820	1072
Fall 2019	945	1103
Fall 2020	880	1095
Fall 2021	875	1108
Fall 2022	928	1130
Fall 2023	625	1100
Fall 2024	830	1120

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

15–21Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

3 filed values fell outside the usable range for this scale and aren't drawn here.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	—	28
Fall 2002	11	33
Fall 2003	—	28
Fall 2004	—	27
Fall 2005	17	21
Fall 2006	17	22
Fall 2007	17	21
Fall 2008	17	22
Fall 2009	17	23
Fall 2010	18	23
Fall 2011	16	22
Fall 2012	18	23
Fall 2013	17	22
Fall 2014	17	22
Fall 2015	17	22
Fall 2016	17	22
Fall 2017	16	21
Fall 2018	16	25
Fall 2019	16	20
Fall 2020	16	21
Fall 2021	15	21
Fall 2022	16	22
Fall 2023	16	24
Fall 2024	15	21

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

1,547Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Bethel University rose from 924 (Fall 2002) to 1,547 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	924
Fall 2003	1,133
Fall 2004	1,115
Fall 2005	1,187
Fall 2006	1,918
Fall 2007	1,988
Fall 2008	2,126
Fall 2009	2,449
Fall 2010	2,724
Fall 2011	4,474
Fall 2012	5,148
Fall 2013	5,063
Fall 2014	4,638
Fall 2015	4,384
Fall 2016	4,068
Fall 2017	3,975
Fall 2018	3,383
Fall 2019	2,829
Fall 2020	2,461
Fall 2021	2,372
Fall 2022	2,160
Fall 2023	1,671
Fall 2024	1,547

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

54%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Bethel University has wandered from Fall 2003 to Fall 2023 — up to 67% at the peak — but ends near where it began, at 54%.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2003 cohort	60%
Fall 2004 cohort	58%
Fall 2005 cohort	67%
Fall 2006 cohort	58%
Fall 2007 cohort	62%
Fall 2008 cohort	64%
Fall 2009 cohort	62%
Fall 2010 cohort	62%
Fall 2011 cohort	58%
Fall 2012 cohort	56%
Fall 2013 cohort	56%
Fall 2014 cohort	60%
Fall 2015 cohort	59%
Fall 2016 cohort	60%
Fall 2017 cohort	57%
Fall 2018 cohort	62%
Fall 2019 cohort	61%
Fall 2020 cohort	55%
Fall 2021 cohort	56%
Fall 2022 cohort	59%
Fall 2023 cohort	54%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2003–2023

More about Bethel University

Faculty pay at Bethel University averages $37,764 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes Bethel University as a primarily residential campus of 1,547 undergraduates — and 53.9% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Bethel University's SAT section-percentile sums are 830–1120 — their midpoint is below the TN four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Bethel University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Bethel University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Bethel University60.2%

Tennessee median69.3%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Bethel University$18,712

Tennessee median$21,400

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Bethel University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Bethel University$47,482

Tennessee median$48,382

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Bethel University, Tennessee and national reference values
Metric & basis	Bethel University	Tennessee median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	60.2%	69.3%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$18,712	$21,400	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$47,482	$48,382	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Bethel University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Bethel University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 5 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$80,794
Homeland Security	$79,079
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$62,967
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$60,102
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$48,730

These 5 fields listed for Bethel University measure earnings after completion. The $47,482 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 29 additional Bethel University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Bethel University report?

Bethel University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 830–1120 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Bethel University's acceptance rate?

60.2% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 895 admitted from 1,486 applicants.

How much does Bethel University cost?

At Bethel University, tuition is $18,712. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does Bethel University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $47,482. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Tennessee

Baptist Health Sciences University — 82% admitted
Cumberland University — 67.3% admitted
Lipscomb University — 67.7% admitted
Johnson University — 65.1% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.