AU vs. Bethel

Should I go to Anderson University or Bethel University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or Bethel is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Anderson University vs. Bethel University comparison
Anderson University Bethel University College 3 College 4
Anderson University
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Overview

 AU Bethel
Location Anderson, SC McKenzie, TN
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 4,121 4,686
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1002
Religious Affiliation Baptist Cumberland Presbyterian - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website andersonuniversity.edu bethelu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 AU Bethel
Tuition (In State) $30,860 $16,222
Tuition (Out of State) $30,860 $16,222
Room & Board $11,230 $13,446
Avg Net Price $21,633 $13,858
Avg Grant Aid $24,409 $13,396
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

 AU Bethel
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,043 2,489
Admitted 2,289 2,210
Acceptance Rate 45.4% 88.8%
Enrolled % 34.9% 20.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.6
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22
SAT Range 928/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 AU Bethel
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (37%)
  • Business (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Business (78%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Biology (3%)
  • Health Professions (3%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)

Outcomes

 AU Bethel
Graduation Rate 48% 32%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,500 $42,700
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,862 $28,250
Median Loan Payment $277 $292

Diversity

 AU Bethel
% Men 35% 46%
% Women 65% 54%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 83% 46%
% Black 8% 40%
% Hispanic 3% 1%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 5%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

 AU Bethel
% In-State 68% 80%
% Out-of-State 31% 19%

Campus

 AU Bethel
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bethel University is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (4,686 students vs. 4,121 students)

AU vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Bethel?

  • Anderson University is 90.2% more expensive to attend than Bethel for in-state tuition ($30,860.00 vs. $16,222.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 90.2% higher at AU than Bethel University ($30,860.00 vs. $16,222.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethel University than AU ($13,858 vs. $21,633)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 19.7% lower than costs at Bethel University ($11,230 vs. $13,446)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Anderson University than Bethel University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 82.2% larger than aid received Bethel University ($24,409 vs. $13,396)

AU vs. Bethel Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Bethel? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bethel or AU .

  • The average SAT score at Anderson University (1078) is 150 points higher than at Bethel (928)
  • Incoming AU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Bethel (20)
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Bethel (3.6)
  • Bethel has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than AU (45.4%)

AU vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Bethel? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Bethel and AU.

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than Bethel University (48% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn on average $5,200 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($42,700 vs. $37,500)
  • Anderson University students graduate with a $1,388 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethel graduates. ($26,862 vs. $28,250)
  • AU graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Bethel graduates. ($277 vs. $292)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 33%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/