Luther College vs Bethel University

Luther College and Bethel University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Luther College, nestled in Decorah, Iowa, boasts a lower acceptance rate of 72%, indicating its selectivity in admissions. Bethel University, located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, has a higher acceptance rate of 84%, making it a more accessible option. While Luther College excels in the liberal arts and sciences, Bethel University emphasizes business, nursing, and education. Luther College's student body is predominantly White (89%), while Bethel University's student body is more diverse, with 73% White, 10% Black, and 7% Hispanic students. Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with Luther College at 79% and Bethel University at 75%. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details and discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Bethel University logo

Bethel University

Luther College logo

Luther College

Overview

Location Saint Paul, Minnesota Decorah, Iowa
Campus setting Suburb: Large Town: Remote
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester 4-1-4
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 86.0% 84.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation Baptist Evangelical

Admission

Acceptance rate 88.7% 76.1%
Application fees
SAT range 1123 - 1343 1088 - 1318
ACT range 20 - 28 22 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 4.0% 8.0%
Students submitting ACT score 57.0% 37.0%
Total number of applicants 2,050 2,495
Total number of admissions given out 1,818 1,898
Admitted students who chose to enroll 504 444
Yield rate 27.7% 23.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $55,228 $61,175
Average net price $28,840 $25,929
Tuition $39,920 $46,130
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,990

Meal plan: $5,160
Room/dormitory: $4,870

Meal plan: $5,490
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

99.0%
Average amount $24,534
100.0%
Average amount $34,281
Students receiving federal student loan 65.0%
Average amount $5,559
69.0%
Average amount $5,292
Students taking out private loans 17.0%
Average amount $15,453
13.0%
Average amount $13,652

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,653
Men 38.9% Women 61.1%
1,744
Men 43.4% Women 56.6%
Graduate students 1,078
Men 32.5% Women 67.5%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 22.4% 70.5%
International students 0.8% 9.9%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 1,819 2,156
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Minnesota Wisconsin Iowa South Dakota Illinois Minnesota Iowa Wisconsin Illinois California

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Theology
  • Social Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies
Students to faculty ratio 11:1 11:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 74.3% 72.5%
Dropout rate 25.0% 27.4%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $108,189
  • Year 2: $101,406
  • Year 3: $114,186
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,885
  • Year 2: $80,858
  • Year 3: $99,647
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $99,325
  • Year 3: $97,047
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,998
  • Year 2: $66,964
  • Year 3: $70,318
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $63,253
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,100
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $61,022
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,747
  • Year 2: $52,733
  • Year 3: $56,122
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,385
  • Year 2: $53,775
  • Year 3: $55,588
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,180
  • Year 2: $47,427
  • Year 3: $53,686
Theological and Ministerial Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,174
  • Year 2: $49,883
  • Year 3: $51,683
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,195
  • Year 2: $75,518
  • Year 3: $91,432
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,140
  • Year 2: $65,441
  • Year 3: $66,753
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,758
  • Year 2: $56,641
  • Year 3: $64,932
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,532
  • Year 2: $43,426
  • Year 3: $55,251
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,545
  • Year 2: $45,175
  • Year 3: $50,853
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,709
  • Year 2: $36,848
  • Year 3: $44,954
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,831
  • Year 2: $35,401
  • Year 3: $41,091
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,489
  • Year 2: $38,559
  • Year 3: $40,687
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,592
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: $38,953
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,828
  • Year 2: $27,536
  • Year 3: $38,178

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