Iowa Wesleyan University vs Bethany College

Iowa Wesleyan University and Bethany Lutheran College, both located in Iowa, offer distinct educational experiences for prospective students. Iowa Wesleyan, a private university, boasts a higher acceptance rate (75%) compared to Bethany Lutheran's selective admissions (58%). While Iowa Wesleyan's student body is more diverse, Bethany Lutheran has a smaller student population, fostering a close-knit community. Both institutions excel in different areas: Iowa Wesleyan is known for its strong nursing and business programs, while Bethany Lutheran shines in its music and education offerings. With Iowa Wesleyan's higher graduation rate (56%) compared to Bethany Lutheran's (48%), students may find better post-graduation outcomes at Iowa Wesleyan. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Bethany Lutheran College logo

Bethany Lutheran College

Iowa Wesleyan University logo

Iowa Wesleyan University

Overview

Location Mankato, Minnesota Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Campus setting City: Small Town: Remote
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 and Graduate
Students retention rate 73.0% 51.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation Methodism

Admission

Acceptance rate 61.5% 81.9%
Application fees $40
SAT range N/A 820 - 1020
ACT range N/A 15 - 20
Students submitting SAT score 9.0%
Students submitting ACT score 22.0%
Total number of applicants 714 3,934
Total number of admissions given out 439 3,222
Admitted students who chose to enroll 199 267
Yield rate 45.3% 8.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $39,490 $42,840
Average net price $17,640 $34,988
Tuition $27,980 $32,550
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $3,840

Meal plan: $4,280
Room/dormitory: $4,410

Meal plan: $6,930
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $21,117
97.0%
Average amount $12,333
Students receiving federal student loan 49.0%
Average amount $5,283
92.0%
Average amount $4,286
Students taking out private loans 15.0%
Average amount $9,790
7.0%
Average amount $6,430

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 781
Men 44.7% Women 55.3%
758
Men 57.9% Women 42.1%
Graduate students 17
Men 64.7% Women 35.3%
67
Men 52.2% Women 47.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 38.9% N/A
International students 16.8% 11.3%
Campus local/setting City: Small Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 547 568
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Minnesota Wisconsin Arizona South Dakota Florida N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Health Professions
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 12:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 62.7% 22.5%
Dropout rate 16.4% 32.5%
Transferred out 20.9% 44.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,098
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $41,290
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $27,488
  • Year 3: $27,943
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: N/A
Visual and Performing Arts, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $26,353
  • Year 3: N/A
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $35,594
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,581
  • Year 2: $49,840
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,362
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A

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