Bethel vs. ETSU

Should I go to Bethel University or East Tennessee State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bethel or ETSU 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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Bethel University vs. East Tennessee State University comparison
Bethel University East Tennessee State University College 3 College 4
East Tennessee State University
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Overview

 Bethel ETSU
Location McKenzie, TN Johnson City, TN
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 4,686 13,483
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1002 #652
Religious Affiliation Cumberland Presbyterian - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bethelu.edu etsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Bethel ETSU
Tuition (In State) $16,222 $7,722
Tuition (Out of State) $16,222 $11,532
Room & Board $13,446 $9,613
Avg Net Price $13,858 $14,350
Avg Grant Aid $13,396 $8,739
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 100%

Admission

 Bethel ETSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,489 9,609
Admitted 2,210 8,193
Acceptance Rate 88.8% 85.3%
Enrolled % 20.6% 25.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.33
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/22 19/26
SAT Range 928/1130 980/1190
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

 Bethel ETSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (78%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Biology (3%)
  • Health Professions (3%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)
  • Health Professions (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 Bethel ETSU
% Men 46% 37%
% Women 54% 63%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 46% 82%
% Black 40% 7%
% Hispanic 1% 2%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 5% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

 Bethel ETSU
% In-State 80% 75%
% Out-of-State 19% 23%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • East Tennessee State University is larger than than Bethel based on total student enrollment (13,483 students vs. 4,686 students)

Bethel vs. ETSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bethel or ETSU?

  • Bethel University is 110.1% more expensive to attend than ETSU for in-state tuition ($16,222.00 vs. $7,722.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.7% higher at Bethel than East Tennessee State University ($16,222.00 vs. $11,532.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethel University than ETSU ($13,858 vs. $14,350)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 39.9% lower than costs at Bethel University ($9,613 vs. $13,446)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at East Tennessee State University than Bethel University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethel University students is 53.3% larger than aid received East Tennessee State University ($13,396 vs. $8,739)

Bethel vs. ETSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at East Tennessee State University (1068) is 140 points higher than at Bethel (928)
  • Incoming ETSU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Bethel (20)
  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at ETSU (3.33)
  • Bethel has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than ETSU (85.3%)

Bethel vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bethel or ETSU? 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 ETSU and Bethel.

  • The graduation rate at ETSU is higher than Bethel University (44% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn on average $2,700 more per year than ETSU graduates after ten years. ($42,700 vs. $40,000)
  • East Tennessee State University students graduate with a $7,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethel graduates. ($20,500 vs. $28,250)
  • ETSU graduates are paying $81 less per month on federal student loans 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/