
Watertown, WIprivate nonprofitwww.mbu.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 71%–80% 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.
Maranatha Baptist University is a small, conservative Christian university in Watertown, Wisconsin, where faith and academics intertwine tightly. With an acceptance rate hovering around 72%, it attracts students seeking a Bible-centered education, particularly in theology, education, and health professions. Campus life is tightly regulated, emphasizing spiritual growth over typical college revelry.
Test scores required
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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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.
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
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.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Maranatha Baptist University maintains a moderately selective admissions process, with an Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. of 71.9% as of 2024, admitting 197 out of 274 applicants. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 930-1230 on the SAT or 20-28 on the ACT, with an average high school GPA of 3.6. The university does not have an open admissions policy, focusing instead on students who align with its religious and academic standards.
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.
Maranatha offers over 30 undergraduate programs, with popular majors including Education, Theology and Religious Vocations, and Health Professions. The student-to-faculty ratio is an intimate 10:1, fostering close mentorship. The university recently expanded its College of Arts and Sciences with new majors aimed at integrating faith into service-oriented careers. Graduation rates stand at 50% over six years, reflecting the institution's rigorous academic and spiritual demands.
Life at Maranatha is deeply rooted in its Baptist identity, with strict behavioral expectations outlined in the Student Life Handbook. The university houses 64% of its 540 undergraduates in ten residence halls, fostering a close-knit, party-free community. Social life revolves around chapel services, fellowship, and wholesome activities, with no Greek life or traditional college nightlife. The urban Watertown setting provides limited off-campus distractions, keeping focus on spiritual and academic growth.
Maranatha graduates face mixed economic outcomes. The six-year graduation rate is 54%, with median earnings of $45,593 ten years post-graduation—below the national average for four-year colleges. Recent graduates earn about $38,240 annually, climbing to $42,042 after five years. These figures reflect the university's emphasis on ministry and service-oriented careers over high-earning professions.
Attending Maranatha costs $26,001 annually after aid, with 80% of students receiving financial assistance. The university distributes over $1.3 million in scholarships yearly. Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. varies significantly by income—families earning $30K-$48K pay around $26,514, while those over $110K face costs near $35,369. These figures position Maranatha as a mid-range option among private Christian colleges.
Maranatha distinguishes itself through unwavering commitment to Baptist doctrine, integrating faith into every academic program and campus policy. Its 10:1 student-faculty ratio creates an intensely personal educational environment rare even among small colleges. The university's recent expansion into health and interdisciplinary majors shows adaptability while maintaining theological rigor—a balancing act few conservative Christian institutions achieve. For students seeking an education where chapel is as central as chemistry class, Maranatha delivers uncompromisingly.