AAMU vs. Bethel

Deciding between Alabama A & M University and Bethel University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Alabama A & M University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AAMU Normal, AL
  • Bethel McKenzie, TN
  • Setting
  • AAMU Midsize City
  • Bethel Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • AAMU 7,295
  • Bethel 2,936
  • Type
  • AAMU Public 4 Year
  • Bethel Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AAMU #1011
  • Bethel #966
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AAMU -
  • Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian
  • Status
  • AAMU Non-profit
  • Bethel Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AAMU
  • Bethel

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AAMU $10,024
  • Bethel $18,712
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AAMU $18,634
  • Bethel $18,712
  • Room & Board
  • AAMU $11,402
  • Bethel $10,538
  • Average Net Price
  • AAMU $17,152
  • Bethel $13,112
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AAMU $12,844
  • Bethel $17,700
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AAMU 86%
  • Bethel 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AAMU 23,406
  • Bethel 1,486
  • Admitted
  • AAMU 13,564
  • Bethel 895
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AAMU 58%
  • Bethel 60.2%
  • Enrolled
  • AAMU 14.5%
  • Bethel 32.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AAMU 930
  • Bethel 980
  • Typical ACT score
  • AAMU 16
  • Bethel 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • AAMU 3.02
  • Bethel 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AAMU B
  • Bethel A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AAMU Extremely Easy
  • Bethel Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • AAMU Low
  • Bethel Low
  • ACT Range
  • AAMU 14/19
  • Bethel 15/21
  • SAT Range
  • AAMU 810/1040
  • Bethel 830/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AAMU Test optional
  • Bethel Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AAMU
  • Bethel

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AAMU 19:1
  • Bethel 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AAMU
    • Business (19%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Human Services (6%)
  • Bethel
    • Business (78%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (3%)
    • Health Professions (3%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AAMU 32%
  • Bethel 32%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AAMU $34,300
  • Bethel $42,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AAMU 25%
  • Bethel 33%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AAMU $35,000
  • Bethel $28,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AAMU $361
  • Bethel $292

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AAMU 41%
  • Bethel 46%
  • % Women
  • AAMU 59%
  • Bethel 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AAMU Extremely Low
  • Bethel High
  • HBCU
  • AAMU Yes
  • Bethel No
  • % White
  • AAMU 3%
  • Bethel 46%
  • % Asian
  • AAMU 0%
  • Bethel 0%
  • % Black
  • AAMU 92%
  • Bethel 40%
  • % Hispanic
  • AAMU 1%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Native American
  • AAMU 0%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AAMU 0%
  • Bethel 5%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AAMU 0%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % International
  • AAMU 1%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AAMU 3%
  • Bethel 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AAMU 45%
  • Bethel 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AAMU 54%
  • Bethel 11%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AAMU Yes
  • Bethel Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AAMU No
  • Bethel No
  • Meal Plan
  • AAMU Yes
  • Bethel Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AAMU Yes
  • Bethel Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • AAMU Yes
  • Bethel No

Comparable Facts

Compare Alabama A & M University in Normal, AL with Bethel University in McKenzie, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Alabama A & M University is larger than Bethel based on total student enrollment (7,295 students vs. 2,936 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Alabama A & M University is located in Normal, AL (Midsize City setting); Bethel University is in McKenzie, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Alabama A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bethel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Alabama A & M University 19:1; Bethel University 15:1.

AAMU vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AAMU or Bethel? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethel University than AAMU ($13,112 vs. $17,152).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethel University are 7.6% lower than at Alabama A & M University ($10,538 vs. $11,402).
  • Bethel University is 86.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than AAMU (about $8,688 more per year; $18,712.00 vs. $10,024.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.4% higher at Bethel than at Alabama A & M University (about $78 more per year; $18,712.00 vs. $18,634.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bethel University than at Alabama A & M University (98% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethel University students is 37.8% larger than aid received by Alabama A & M University students ($17,700 vs. $12,844).

AAMU vs. Bethel Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AAMU or Bethel? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Bethel and AAMU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bethel University (980) is 50 points higher than at AAMU (930).
  • Incoming Bethel students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (18 vs. 16 at AAMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama A & M University 810/1040; Bethel University 830/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama A & M University 14/19; Bethel University 15/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AAMU - Test optional; Bethel - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at AAMU (3.02).
  • Bethel has a higher acceptance rate (60.2%) than AAMU (58%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.5% at AAMU vs. 32.2% at Bethel.

AAMU vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AAMU and Bethel? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • The graduation rate at AAMU is the same as at Bethel University (32% vs. 32%).
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than AAMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,700 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bethel University graduates have a $6,750 lower median loan debt than AAMU graduates ($28,250 vs. $35,000).
  • Among borrowers, Bethel graduates have an estimated $69 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AAMU graduates ($292 vs. $361).
  • More Bethel graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AAMU students, three years after graduation. (33% vs. 25%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.