
Mishawaka, INprivate nonprofitbetheluniversity.edu
Admit rate has ranged 93%–99% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Bethel University is a Christian liberal arts college in Mishawaka, Indiana, where nearly open admissions (97% acceptance rate) meets surprisingly strong graduation outcomes (72% six-year rate). With 120+ degree programs and a campus pulsing with faith-centered activities, it’s a place where students who might struggle elsewhere find both academic scaffolding and spirited community.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Bethel’s admissions process is among the most accessible in the Midwest—a 97.66% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. makes it nearly open enrollment, with admitted students typically posting SAT scores between 910–1140 or ACT scores of 16–24. The university joined the Common Application recently, leveraging its data analytics to refine outreach strategies. Notably, only 8% of admitted students boast GPAs above 4.0, signaling a mission to serve academically middle-of-the-road applicants.
Bethel offers over 120 degree programs, with education (6% of majors) and social sciences (4%) as standouts. The curriculum leans heavily into Christian liberal arts traditions, but practical fields like business and natural sciences hold equal weight. A Facebook post from the university touts its 'commitment to fostering well-rounded growth,' emphasizing co-curricular integration—think chapel credits alongside biology labs. The academic vibe is supportive rather than cutthroat, with faculty known for mentoring students who might not thrive at more selective schools.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Eighty percent of students live on campus, fueling a tight-knit environment where intramurals, worship nights, and 'Tunnel Rush' (a frenzied basketball game tradition) dominate social calendars. The university explicitly frames campus life around 'connectedness'—to faith, peers, and mentors. While US News notes the lack of Greek life, Bethel compensates with 40+ clubs and NAIA athletics (the Pilots compete in the Crossroads League). Diversity initiatives are prominently advertised, though concrete demographic data is scarce in available sources.
Defying its non-selective admissions, Bethel posts a solid 72% six-year graduation rate (per 2019 cohort data), with men graduating at 74% and women slightly higher. The Department of Education’s College Scorecard highlights strong 'value-added earnings' for graduates—a point of pride Bethel amplifies in its marketing. Notably, the university ranked 12th in Indiana for employment outcomes, suggesting its career services punch above their weight given the student profile.
Bethel aggressively promotes affordability through its Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator and 'transparent tuition' messaging. While official tuition figures aren’t disclosed in the provided sources, the university emphasizes that 100% of students receive aid—typically a mix of merit scholarships (for GPAs as low as 2.5) and need-based grants. A blog post frames the cost as an investment in 'purposeful lives shaped by faith,' though concrete ROI data beyond graduation rates is limited.
Bethel’s superpower is turning modest academic profiles into degrees—its 72% graduation rate rivals many more selective schools. The fusion of evangelical warmth (mandatory chapel credits) with pragmatic support (strong First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. resources) creates a niche for students who’d drown at impersonal state schools. It’s not for everyone—the Christian identity permeates everything from dorm life to curriculum—but for those aligned with its mission, Bethel delivers outsized outcomes relative to its admissions standards.