Bethel vs. ETSU

Deciding between Bethel University and East Tennessee State 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.

East Tennessee State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bethel McKenzie, TN
  • ETSU Johnson City, TN
  • Setting
  • Bethel Distant Town
  • ETSU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bethel 2,936
  • ETSU 13,728
  • Type
  • Bethel Private 4 Year
  • ETSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bethel #966
  • ETSU #650
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian
  • ETSU -
  • Status
  • Bethel Non-profit
  • ETSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bethel
  • ETSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bethel $18,712
  • ETSU $10,472
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bethel $18,712
  • ETSU $14,522
  • Room & Board
  • Bethel $10,538
  • ETSU $10,554
  • Average Net Price
  • Bethel $13,112
  • ETSU $16,286
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bethel $17,700
  • ETSU $10,101
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bethel 98%
  • ETSU 87%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bethel 1,486
  • ETSU 10,050
  • Admitted
  • Bethel 895
  • ETSU 8,662
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bethel 60.2%
  • ETSU 86.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Bethel 32.2%
  • ETSU 24.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bethel 980
  • ETSU 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bethel 18
  • ETSU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bethel 3.6
  • ETSU 3.33
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bethel A-
  • ETSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bethel Extremely Easy
  • ETSU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bethel Low
  • ETSU
  • ACT Range
  • Bethel 15/21
  • ETSU 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • Bethel 830/1120
  • ETSU 980/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bethel Test optional
  • ETSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bethel
  • ETSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bethel 15:1
  • ETSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bethel
    • Business (78%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (3%)
    • Health Professions (3%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)
  • ETSU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bethel 32%
  • ETSU 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bethel $42,700
  • ETSU $40,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bethel 33%
  • ETSU 50%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bethel $28,250
  • ETSU $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bethel $292
  • ETSU $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bethel 46%
  • ETSU 39%
  • % Women
  • Bethel 54%
  • ETSU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bethel High
  • ETSU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Bethel No
  • ETSU No
  • % White
  • Bethel 46%
  • ETSU 82%
  • % Asian
  • Bethel 0%
  • ETSU 1%
  • % Black
  • Bethel 40%
  • ETSU 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bethel 1%
  • ETSU 2%
  • % Native American
  • Bethel 1%
  • ETSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bethel 5%
  • ETSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bethel 1%
  • ETSU 3%
  • % International
  • Bethel 1%
  • ETSU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bethel 5%
  • ETSU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bethel 82%
  • ETSU 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bethel 11%
  • ETSU 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Bethel University in McKenzie, TN with East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Tennessee State University is larger than Bethel based on total student enrollment (13,728 students vs. 2,936 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bethel University is located in McKenzie, TN (Distant Town setting); East Tennessee State University is in Johnson City, TN (Small City setting).
  • Bethel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. East Tennessee State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bethel University 15:1; East Tennessee State University 15:1.

Bethel vs. ETSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bethel or ETSU? 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 ETSU ($13,112 vs. $16,286).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethel University are 0.2% lower than at East Tennessee State University ($10,538 vs. $10,554).
  • Bethel University is 78.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than ETSU (about $8,240 more per year; $18,712.00 vs. $10,472.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 28.9% higher at Bethel than at East Tennessee State University (about $4,190 more per year; $18,712.00 vs. $14,522.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bethel University than at East Tennessee State University (98% vs. 87%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethel University students is 75.2% larger than aid received by East Tennessee State University students ($17,700 vs. $10,101).

Bethel vs. ETSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bethel or ETSU? 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 ETSU and Bethel.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at East Tennessee State University (1090) is 110 points higher than at Bethel (980).
  • Incoming ETSU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 18 at Bethel).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bethel University 830/1120; East Tennessee State University 980/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bethel University 15/21; East Tennessee State University 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bethel - Test optional; ETSU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at ETSU (3.33).
  • ETSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than Bethel (60.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.2% at Bethel vs. 24.7% at ETSU.

Bethel vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bethel and ETSU? 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).

  • East Tennessee State University's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Bethel University's (32%).
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than ETSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,700 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, East Tennessee State University graduates have a $7,750 lower median loan debt than Bethel graduates ($20,500 vs. $28,250).
  • Among borrowers, ETSU graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bethel graduates ($211 vs. $292).
  • More ETSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 33%)

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.