Bethany College vs. UNK

Should I go to Bethany College or University of Nebraska at Kearney? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bethany College or UNK 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. University of Nebraska at Kearney comparison
Bethany College University of Nebraska at Kearney College 3 College 4
University of Nebraska at Kearney
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Overview

 Bethany College UNK
Location Lindsborg, KS Kearney, NE
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 637 6,017
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #574
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bethanylb.edu unk.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Bethany College UNK
Tuition (In State) $29,800 $6,450
Tuition (Out of State) $29,800 $12,418
Room & Board $13,338 $11,936
Avg Net Price $29,571 $16,249
Avg Grant Aid $22,842 $8,779
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 86%

Admission

 Bethany College UNK
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,860 7,253
Admitted 1,462 6,222
Acceptance Rate 78.6% 85.8%
Enrolled % 11.9% 14.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.16 3.24
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/22 18/25
SAT Range 883/1020 970/1150
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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 Bethany College UNK
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

 Bethany College UNK
Graduation Rate 42% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,400 $43,400
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $21,250
Median Loan Payment $279 $219

Diversity

 Bethany College UNK
% Men 3% 8%
% Women 6% 22%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 60% 79%
% Black 16% 2%
% Hispanic 19% 11%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

 Bethany College UNK
% In-State 34% 86%
% Out-of-State 60% 9%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Nebraska at Kearney is larger than than Bethany College based on total student enrollment (6,017 students vs. 637 students)

Bethany College vs. UNK Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bethany College or UNK?

  • Bethany College is 362% more expensive to attend than UNK for in-state tuition ($29,800.00 vs. $6,450.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 140% higher at Bethany College than University of Nebraska at Kearney ($29,800.00 vs. $12,418.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Nebraska at Kearney than Bethany College ($16,249 vs. $29,571)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nebraska at Kearney are 11.7% lower than costs at Bethany College ($11,936 vs. $13,338)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bethany College than University of Nebraska at Kearney (100% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethany College students is 160.2% larger than aid received University of Nebraska at Kearney ($22,842 vs. $8,779)

Bethany College vs. UNK Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Nebraska at Kearney (1049) is 90 points higher than at Bethany College (959)
  • Incoming UNK students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Bethany College (21)
  • Accepted freshman UNK students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.24) than students at Bethany College (3.16)
  • UNK has a higher acceptance rate (85.8%) than Bethany College (78.6%)

Bethany College vs. UNK Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at UNK is higher than Bethany College (61% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates of Bethany College and UNK have equivalent average earnings after ten years ($43,400 vs. $43,400)
  • University of Nebraska at Kearney students graduate with a $5,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethany College graduates. ($21,250 vs. $27,000)
  • UNK graduates are paying $60 less per month on federal student loans than Bethany College graduates. ($219 vs. $279)
  • More UNK graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethany College students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 62%)

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