Bethel vs. UTC

Should I go to Bethel University or The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bethel or UTC 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. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga comparison
Bethel University The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College 3 College 4
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
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Overview

Bethel UTC
Location McKenzie, TN Chattanooga, TN
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 4,686 11,283
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1002 #788
Religious Affiliation Cumberland Presbyterian - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bethelu.edu utc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bethel UTC
Tuition (In State) $16,222 $7,992
Tuition (Out of State) $16,222 $24,110
Room & Board $13,446 $9,500
Avg Net Price $13,858 $14,417
Avg Grant Aid $13,396 $9,309
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 94%

Admission

Bethel UTC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,489 8,345
Admitted 2,210 6,897
Acceptance Rate 88.8% 82.6%
Enrolled % 20.6% 32.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.61
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/22 20/26
SAT Range 928/1130 1023/1210
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 May 1, 2025

Academics

Bethel UTC
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%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Bethel UTC
Graduation Rate 32% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,700 $40,600
Making Student Loan Payments 33% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $28,250 $20,792
Median Loan Payment $292 $214

Diversity

Bethel UTC
% Men 46% 42%
% Women 54% 58%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 46% 75%
% Black 40% 11%
% Hispanic 1% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 5% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 7%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

Bethel UTC
% In-State 80% 89%
% Out-of-State 19% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is larger than than Bethel based on total student enrollment (11,283 students vs. 4,686 students)

Bethel vs. UTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bethel or UTC?

  • Bethel University is 103% more expensive to attend than UTC for in-state tuition ($16,222.00 vs. $7,992.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 48.6% higher at UTC than Bethel University ($24,110.00 vs. $16,222.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethel University than UTC ($13,858 vs. $14,417)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are 41.5% lower than costs at Bethel University ($9,500 vs. $13,446)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bethel University than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (96% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethel University students is 43.9% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($13,396 vs. $9,309)

Bethel vs. UTC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1087) is 159 points higher than at Bethel (928)
  • Incoming UTC students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Bethel (20)
  • Accepted freshman UTC students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Bethel (3.6)
  • Bethel has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than UTC (82.6%)

Bethel vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at UTC is higher than Bethel University (39% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn on average $2,100 more per year than UTC graduates after ten years. ($42,700 vs. $40,600)
  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students graduate with a $7,458 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethel graduates. ($20,792 vs. $28,250)
  • UTC graduates are paying $78 less per month on federal student loans than Bethel graduates. ($214 vs. $292)
  • More UTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 33%)

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