Bethany College vs. Messenger College

Should I go to Bethany College or Messenger College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bethany College or Messenger College 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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Bethany College vs. Messenger College comparison
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Overview

 Bethany College Messenger College
Location Lindsborg, KS Joplin, TX
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 744 19
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church Other Protestant - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bethanylb.edu messengercollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Bethany College Messenger College
Tuition (In State) $29,200 $9,480
Tuition (Out of State) $29,200 $9,480
Room & Board $13,076 $7,832
Avg Net Price $29,546 $17,197
Avg Grant Aid $21,045 $7,812
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 Bethany College Messenger College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,521 8
Admitted 2,325 4
Acceptance Rate 66% 50%
Enrolled % 11.1% 100%
Avg High School GPA 3.16 2.9
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 15/22
SAT Range 883/1020
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 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

 Bethany College Messenger College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (83%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Business (6%)

Outcomes

 Bethany College Messenger College
Graduation Rate 42% 10%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,400 $24,000
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 40%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 N/A
Median Loan Payment $279 N/A

Diversity

 Bethany College Messenger College
% Men 58% 42%
% Women 42% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 60% 54%
% Black 16% 18%
% Hispanic 19% 13%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 8%

Students

 Bethany College Messenger College
% In-State 34% 50%
% Out-of-State 60% 50%

Campus

 Bethany College Messenger College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bethany College is larger than than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (744 students vs. 19 students)

Bethany College vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bethany College or Messenger College?

  • Bethany College is 208% more expensive to attend than Messenger College for in-state tuition ($29,200.00 vs. $9,480.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 208% higher at Bethany College than Messenger College ($29,200.00 vs. $9,480.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Messenger College than Bethany College ($17,197 vs. $29,546)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messenger College are 67% lower than costs at Bethany College ($7,832 vs. $13,076)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Bethany College as Messenger College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethany College students is 169.4% larger than aid received Messenger College ($21,045 vs. $7,812)

Bethany College vs. Messenger College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Bethany College students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.16) than students at Messenger College (2.9)
  • Bethany College has a higher acceptance rate (66%) than Messenger College (50%)

Bethany College vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bethany College or Messenger College? 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 Messenger College and Bethany College.

  • The graduation rate at Bethany College is higher than Messenger College (42% vs. 10%)
  • Graduates from Bethany College earn on average $19,400 more per year than Messenger College graduates after ten years. ($43,400 vs. $24,000)
  • More Bethany College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Messenger College students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 40%)

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