Wheaton College vs Bethel University
Wheaton College and Bethel University, both esteemed Christian institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Wheaton College, nestled in the vibrant city of Wheaton, Illinois, boasts a lower acceptance rate of 38%, indicating its selectivity. Bethel University, located in the charming town of St. Paul, Minnesota, has a higher acceptance rate of 68%, making it more accessible. While Wheaton College is known for its strong liberal arts and sciences programs, Bethel University excels in nursing, business, and education. Wheaton College's student body is predominantly White (69%) and female (59%), while Bethel University's student body is more diverse, with a higher percentage of students of color (34%) and a more balanced gender ratio (51% female, 49% male). Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with Wheaton College's rate at 84% and Bethel University's at 78%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions and determine which
|
![]() Bethel University |
![]() Wheaton College |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Wheaton, Illinois |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: 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 and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 86.0% | 89.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Baptist | Undenominational |
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 88.7% | 86.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$30
|
|
SAT range | 1123 - 1343 | 1250 - 1430 |
ACT range | 20 - 28 | 27 - 32 |
Students submitting SAT score | 4.0% | 32.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 57.0% | 25.0% |
Total number of applicants | 2,050 | 1,993 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,818 | 1,719 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 504 | 546 |
Yield rate | 27.7% | 31.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $55,228 | $54,700 |
Average net price | $28,840 | $28,319 |
Tuition | $39,920 | $40,570 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,990
Meal plan:
$5,160
|
Room/dormitory:
$6,640
Meal plan:
$4,660
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $24,534 |
91.0%
Average amount $23,469 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
65.0%
Average amount $5,559 |
52.0%
Average amount $5,169 |
Students taking out private loans |
17.0%
Average amount $15,453 |
5.0%
Average amount $15,404 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
2,653
Men 38.9% Women 61.1% |
2,341
Men 44.9% Women 55.1% |
Graduate students |
1,078
Men 32.5% Women 67.5% |
706
Men 34.6% Women 65.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 22.4% | N/A |
International students | 0.8% | 5.9% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,819 | 2,153 |
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 | N/A |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 11:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 74.3% | 87.6% |
Dropout rate | 25.0% | 3.1% |
Transferred out | N/A | 9.1% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Theological and Ministerial Studies (Master's Degrees)
|
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Theological and Ministerial Studies (Master's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Religious Education (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
















































































































































































































































































