Bethune-Cookman vs. Messenger College

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

Bethune-Cookman Messenger College
Location Daytona Beach, FL Joplin, TX
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 2,515 26
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1024
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Other Protestant - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cookman.edu messengercollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bethune-Cookman Messenger College
Tuition (In State) $13,844 $9,600
Tuition (Out of State) $13,844 $9,600
Room & Board $10,396 $12,635
Avg Net Price $14,705 $18,221
Avg Grant Aid $15,114 $7,978
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Bethune-Cookman Messenger College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,844 14
Admitted 6,834 7
Acceptance Rate 99.9% 50%
Enrolled % 10.3% 100%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 2.9
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/18
SAT Range 830/1000
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 1, 2026

Academics

Bethune-Cookman Messenger College
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (83%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Business (6%)

Outcomes

Bethune-Cookman Messenger College
Graduation Rate 37% 10%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $31,700 $24,000
Making Student Loan Payments 20% 40%
Median Student Loan Debt $35,985 N/A
Median Loan Payment $372 N/A

Diversity

Bethune-Cookman Messenger College
% Men 1% 19%
% Women 3% 35%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU Yes No
% White 2% 54%
% Black 85% 18%
% Hispanic 3% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 8%

Students

Bethune-Cookman Messenger College
% In-State 75% 50%
% Out-of-State 21% 50%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bethune Cookman University is larger than than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (2,515 students vs. 26 students)

Bethune-Cookman vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bethune-Cookman or Messenger College?

  • Bethune Cookman University is 44.2% more expensive to attend than Messenger College for in-state tuition ($13,844.00 vs. $9,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 44.2% higher at Bethune-Cookman than Messenger College ($13,844.00 vs. $9,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethune Cookman University than Messenger College ($14,705 vs. $18,221)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethune Cookman University are 21.5% lower than costs at Messenger College ($10,396 vs. $12,635)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Messenger College than Bethune Cookman University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethune Cookman University students is 89.4% larger than aid received Messenger College ($15,114 vs. $7,978)

Bethune-Cookman vs. Messenger College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Bethune-Cookman students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Messenger College (2.9)
  • Bethune-Cookman has a higher acceptance rate (99.9%) than Messenger College (50%)

Bethune-Cookman vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bethune-Cookman 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 Bethune-Cookman.

  • The graduation rate at Bethune-Cookman is higher than Messenger College (37% vs. 10%)
  • Graduates from Bethune Cookman University earn on average $7,700 more per year than Messenger College graduates after ten years. ($31,700 vs. $24,000)
  • More Messenger College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethune-Cookman students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 20%)

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