What is the acceptance rate at Bethel University?

Bethel University's acceptance rate is approximately 60% (McKenzie, TN), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

What SAT score do you need for Bethel University?

Admitted students at Bethel University typically score 830–1120 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

How much does Bethel University cost?

At Bethel University, the average net price (after aid) is about $12,595 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Bethel University?

Bethel University enrolls approximately 1,547 undergraduate students.

Where is Bethel University located?

Bethel University is located in McKenzie, TN.

Bethel University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Bethel University

McKenzie, TNprivate nonprofitwww.bethelu.edu/

Acceptance

60%

SAT 25–75

830–1120

Avg net price

$12,595

Earnings (10 yr)

$47,482

Graduation rate

35%

Admit rate has ranged 50%–97% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. 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 institution in rural Tennessee with an open-door admissions policy (97% acceptance rate) and a pragmatic focus on career-ready degrees in business, health professions, and ministry. Its tight-knit campus fosters faith and community through traditions and intramurals, though nearly half of students live off-campus. With a 72% six-year graduation rate and median earnings of $36,427 for recent grads, Bethel delivers modest but reliable outcomes at a net price of $20,058 after aid.

Admission requirements

Test-optional — scores considered if submitted

Required

Grade point average
Class rank

Considered (not required)

Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 1,547
In-state tuition: $18,712
Out-of-state tuition: $18,712
Location: McKenzie, TN
Acceptance Rate: 97%
On-Campus Housing: 55%
Six-Year Grad Rate: 72%
Students Receiving Aid: 64%
Median Earnings (1yr post-grad): $36,427

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $47,482
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 3.8×
Median debt at graduation: $27,249
Graduation rate: 35%
First-year retention: 54%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 34%
Pell (lower-income) share: 77%
First-generation share: 51%
Endowment / student: $7,951

Financial health

2.6 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard

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.

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Business/Commerce, General$61,516
Homeland Security$57,318
Criminal Justice and Corrections$50,022
Business Administration, Management and Operations$39,950

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.

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 1
Per 1,000 students: 0.65

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.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 88
Summer high: 88°F
Winter low: 35°F
Annual rain: 56.7"
Annual snow: 4.4"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively Low

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.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 31
Scholarly works: 336

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.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at Bethel University?: Bethel University's acceptance rate is approximately 60% (McKenzie, TN), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Bethel University?: Admitted students at Bethel University typically score 830–1120 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Bethel University cost?: At Bethel University, the average net price (after aid) is about $12,595 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Bethel University?: Bethel University enrolls approximately 1,547 undergraduate students.
Where is Bethel University located?: Bethel University is located in McKenzie, TN.

Admissions

Bethel University is among the least selective institutions in the country, admitting 97% of applicants—effectively an open-door policy. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 910-1140 on the SAT or 16-24 on the ACT, with no minimum GPA requirement. Notably, only 16% of incoming students have a 4.0 GPA or higher, reflecting the university's accessibility to average achievers. Bethel joined the Common Application in recent years to streamline applications and analyze enrollment trends, though its high suggests the move was more about data collection than selectivity.

prepscholar.com bigfuture.collegeboard.org collegedata.com bethelu.edu

Academics

Bethel offers a career-oriented curriculum anchored in Christian values, with popular majors including business, health professions, and ministry. The university emphasizes "transformational academics" that blend vocational training with faith integration, though its program range is typical for a small liberal arts college. Key offerings: