Private Nonprofit · Mankato, Minnesota

Bethany Lutheran College

Bethany Lutheran College is a private nonprofit institution in Mankato, Minnesota. as a private nonprofit, published Scorecard outcomes cover federal-aid recipients at this campus — endowment and sticker price sit outside those cohort fields.

$46,110
10-yr median earnings
39.0%
Acceptance rate
$20,148
Avg net price / yr
56.9%
150%-time completion

The verdict

Bethany Lutheran College pairs above-median former-student earnings with a selective admit.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

Top 37%
former-student earnings, US
39.0%
acceptance rate
56.9%
150%-time completion
+13%
earnings, 6→10 yrs
City: Small Carnegie: Bacc: A&S
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Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.

How to read this Bethany Lutheran College profile

Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.

Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.

Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.

College Value Score

D
College Value Score
49/100
Bethany Lutheran College

A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.

Earnings C+
$46,110
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price F
$20,148
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate D
56.9%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$23,000
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment A+
84.9%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention F
72.0%
First-year students returning for year two
Bethany Lutheran College vs. the national benchmark
EarningsNet PriceCompletionDebtRepaymentRetention

Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.

10-yr median earnings

$46,110

Federal aid recipients only

Avg net price

$20,148

After grants and scholarships

150%-time completion

56.9%

Full-time, first-time cohort

150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 56.9%

Four-year-institution cohort

College ROI Quadrant - Bethany Lutheran College vs peers

Bethany Lutheran College positioned by earnings vs cost Two-by-two quadrant chart: x-axis median earnings 10 years after enrollment, y-axis average net price after financial aid. Each dot is a college, colored by completion within 150% of normal time (garnet ≥65%, amber 45-64%, red <45%). Net price increases upward, earnings increase rightward, so: bottom-right = best value (low cost, high earnings); top-right = premium (high cost, high earnings); bottom-left = community college tier (low cost, modest earnings); top-left = cost challenge (high cost, low earnings). Currently plotting 8 colleges. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard joined to Carnegie Classification. Bethany Lutheran College positioned by earni… Carnegie Classification: Bacc: A&S Bacc: A&S COST CHALLENGE PREMIUM COMMUNITY BEST VALUE $19K $60K Median Earnings 10 Years After Enrollment ($) $14K $31K Avg Net Price ($) Bethany Lutheran College (you are here): $46K earn · $20K net · 57% grad You are here - Bethany Lutheran C… Minneapolis College of Art and Design: $41K earn · $30K net · 59% grad Minneapolis Colleg… North Central University: $45K earn · $26K net · 65% grad North Central Univ… Martin Luther College: $47K earn · $18K net · 71% grad Martin Luther Coll… Herzing University-Minneapolis: $37K earn · $17K net · 61% grad Herzing University… Crown College: $48K earn · $27K net · 54% grad Crown College Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center: $23K earn · $18K net · 58% grad Minnesota State University-Mankato: $57K earn · $19K net · 54% grad Grad rate (4yr) ≥65% 45-64% <45%
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.

How Bethany Lutheran College ranks nationally

Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.

Bethany Lutheran College: former-student earnings vs. every US college

10-year median earnings, College Scorecard

$46,110 Top 37% higher than 63% of 5,103 US colleges

$0–$20,000: 169 US colleges (3%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 2,245 US colleges (44%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 1,897 US colleges (37%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 606 US colleges (12%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 134 US colleges (3%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 39 US colleges (1%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 11 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 2 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. This college $0 $160,000 every US college, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Metric Bethany Lutheran College National rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $46,110 #1865 of 5103 63rd
Average net price $20,148 #3111 of 5020 38th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 56.9% #2447 of 4858 50th
Undergraduate enrollment 669 #2578 of 5462 53rd

National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.

Quick Facts

669
Undergraduate enrollment
39.0%
Acceptance rate
1,150
SAT average
56.9%
150%-time completion
$46,110
10-yr median earnings
72.0%
First-year retention

How Bethany Lutheran College ranks in Minnesota

State rank among 96 reporting Minnesota colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.

Metric Bethany Lutheran College State rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $46,110 #47 of 96 51st
Average net price $20,148 #57 of 82 30th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 56.9% #38 of 80 53rd
Undergraduate enrollment 669 #61 of 85 28th

Highest former-student earnings in Minnesota

#School10-yr earningsNet price
1Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science$79,652-
2Saint Johns University$76,786$25,672
3Carleton College$75,525$25,407
4University of St Thomas$73,739$29,155
5University of Minnesota-Twin Cities$69,020$16,778
6University of Minnesota-Rochester$69,020$13,744
7The College of Saint Scholastica$65,934$27,846
8Gustavus Adolphus College$65,607$22,900
9St Olaf College$65,543$23,874
10Metropolitan State University$64,705$16,863
11Macalester College$63,878$32,149
12Bethel University$63,764$28,556
47Bethany Lutheran CollegeThis school$46,110$20,148

Admissions

Admission Rate 39.0%
SAT Average 1,150
SAT Math (25th-75th) 490 – 600
SAT Reading (25th-75th) 550 – 580
ACT (25th-75th) 21 – 26
0%100%39%
Share of applicants admitted

Costs & Financial Aid

Net price by family income at Bethany Lutheran College

Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket

net price / yr

What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Bethany Lutheran College - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Tuition & Net Price

In-State Tuition $31,360
Out-of-State Tuition $31,360
Average Net Price $20,148
22.5%
Pell Grant Rate
43.8%
Federal Loan Rate
$23,000
Median Debt
$244/mo
Monthly Payment

Net price at Bethany Lutheran College swings rather than trends

Across 11 reported years between 2013 and 2023, the average net price here has ranged from $15,916 to $18,364 without settling into a rise or a fall. Comparing only the first and last years would read as +6.5%, but the years in between do not follow that line, so the honest summary is the range rather than a trend. Budget against the upper end, not the average.

Lowest year
$15,916
Highest year
$18,364
Most recent (2023)
$17,680
Average net price, 2013–2023

11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

2013: $16,5982014: $18,3642015: $16,2942016: $16,5402017: $17,0052018: $16,7492019: $16,3682020: $16,1072021: $15,9162022: $17,3622023: $17,680
2013 · $16,5982023 · $17,680

Over the same years, enrollment went +23.6% (552 → 682 students).

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.

Student Demographics

Race & ethnicity

Student body at a glance

55.4%
Female

Outcomes

72.0%
Retention Rate
$40,652
Median Earnings (6yr)
54.6%
Earning Over $25K
84.9%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)

Outcomes & debt snapshot

Measure Cohort / horizon Value
Completion within 150% of normal time First-time, full-time 56.9%
First-year retention First-time, full-time freshmen 72.0%
Median earnings 6 years after entry $40,652
Median earnings 10 years after entry $46,110
Share earning over $25,000 Working, not enrolled 54.6%
Loan repayment rate Completers, 3 years after leaving 84.9%
Median federal student debt At completion $23,000
Estimated monthly payment Standard 10-year plan $244/mo

Programs & Earnings

Program Credential Completers Median Earnings Median Debt
Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's 34 $53,811 $21,500
Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's 10 - -
Biology, General Bachelor's 7 - -
Fine and Studio Arts Bachelor's 2 - -

Independent Scorecard matches among reporting colleges — not recommendations from the institution or a counselor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Bethany Lutheran College?
Bethany Lutheran College is a private nonprofit institution in Mankato, Minnesota. The acceptance rate is 39.0%. The average SAT score is 1,150. Undergraduate enrollment is 669 students.
How much do Bethany Lutheran College former students earn?
Federally aided former students at Bethany Lutheran College who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $46,110 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $40,652.
How much does Bethany Lutheran College cost?
The average net price at Bethany Lutheran College is $20,148. In-state tuition is $31,360 and out-of-state tuition is $31,360. Median student debt at graduation is $23,000.
What is the graduation rate at Bethany Lutheran College?
Bethany Lutheran College has a 56.9% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 72.0%.
Is Bethany Lutheran College worth the student debt?
The median student debt at Bethany Lutheran College is $23,000, while former students earn a median of $46,110 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 50% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 84.9% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $244.

Sources & methodology

Private-nonprofit profiles emphasize Scorecard cost-after-aid and completion alongside IPEDS Carnegie class. Endowment, gifts, and sticker price are not Scorecard fields on this page.

Figures are the Mar–Jul 2026 federal retrievals. Nonprofit campuses vary widely in aid practice — net price here is the Title-IV-recipient cohort average, not an individual award letter. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Where to go next from Bethany Lutheran College

Nonprofit Scorecard medians describe federal-aid recipients who were working and not enrolled — they are not sticker-price ROI and not advice.

Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Private-nonprofit profiles compile Scorecard net-price and earnings cohorts with IPEDS structure fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.