Bethel University vs Macalester College
Bethel University and Macalester College, both located in Minnesota, offer distinct educational experiences. Bethel, a private Christian university, boasts a 90% acceptance rate, while Macalester, a private liberal arts college, has a more selective admissions process with a 45% acceptance rate. Bethel's student body is predominantly White (78%) and female (58%), while Macalester's student body is more diverse, with a larger international student population (13%) and a more even gender distribution (51% female, 49% male). Both institutions offer a range of popular majors, including Business, Biology, and Psychology, but Bethel also has strong programs in Christian Studies and Music, while Macalester excels in Environmental Studies and Political Science. With graduation rates of 68% and 82% respectively, both universities provide students with the support and resources they need to succeed. Explore the comparison table below to discover more about these two
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![]() Bethel University |
![]() Macalester College |
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Overview |
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Location | McKenzie, Tennessee | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 55.0% | 96.0% |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | Presbyterian |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 50.0% | 31.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$30
Graduate:
$30
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$40 |
SAT range | 875 - 1108 | 1340 - 1515 |
ACT range | 15 - 21 | 29 - 33 |
Students submitting SAT score | 7.0% | 35.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 72.0% | 39.0% |
Total number of applicants | 2,148 | 9,046 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,073 | 2,828 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 522 | 601 |
Yield rate | 48.6% | 21.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $32,670 | $76,357 |
Average net price | $16,139 | $30,939 |
Tuition | $16,222 | $60,288 |
Room & board | $9,368 |
Room/dormitory:
$7,272
Meal plan:
$6,270
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
97.0%
Average amount $14,696 |
87.0%
Average amount $42,832 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
75.0%
Average amount $5,469 |
39.0%
Average amount $4,799 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $8,030 |
29.0%
Average amount $4,321 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,446
Men 47.4% Women 52.6% |
2,244
Men 43.3% Women 56.7% |
Graduate students |
565
Men 34.7% Women 65.3% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 2.3% | 13.5% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 972 | 1,332 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 37.7% | 89.7% |
Dropout rate | 34.9% | 10.0% |
Transferred out | 27.4% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Homeland Security (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Master's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Geography and Cartography (Bachelor's Degrees)
International/Global Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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