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Bethel University
Most applicants get into Bethel University — 60.2% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Bethel University anchors the college town of McKenzie, TN, where the private campus and town largely share a footprint. The school maintains its Cumberland Presbyterian affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $80,794 four years out. Faculty pay averages $37,764 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 1,547 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 53.9% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 625 and 1100 — below the TN middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Bethel University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
You can apply to Bethel University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 625 and 1100; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 300 | 475 | 525 |
| SAT Math | 325 | 500 | 575 |
| ACT Composite | 16 | 20 | 24 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Bethel University received 3,318 applications and admitted 3,224 (97.2%), with 402 enrolling.
How Bethel University compares
| Bethel University | Tennessee median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 60.2% | 69.4% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $18,712 | $21,400 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $47,482 | $48,382 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, Bethel University's median earnings are $47,482 — below the Tennessee benchmark of $48,382. Weigh that against the $18,712 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
Bethel University lists tuition at $18,712 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Bethel University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $18,712 as the ceiling, not the bill.
With 1,547 undergraduates, Bethel University is small enough that class size and faculty access are structural, not marketing claims.
Fewer than half of Bethel University students — 35% — finish within six years. That number should shape how much debt feels safe.
Top majors by earnings at Bethel University
| Bachelor's program | 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 |
Median earnings for these 5 Bethel University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $47,482 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 29 additional Bethel University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Bethel University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 625–1100 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 60.2% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Bethel University's acceptance rate?
97.2% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 3,224 admitted from 3,318 applicants.
How much does Bethel University cost?
At Bethel University, published tuition is $18,712 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Bethel University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Bethel University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $47,482 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
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: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.