CBC vs. Bethel

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

 CBC Bethel
Location Conway, AR McKenzie, TN
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 550 2,974
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #992
Religious Affiliation Baptist Cumberland Presbyterian - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cbc.edu bethelu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 CBC Bethel
Tuition (In State) $18,150 $16,870
Tuition (Out of State) $18,150 $16,870
Room & Board $8,500 $10,537
Avg Net Price $16,672 $20,606
Avg Grant Aid $10,916 $10,423
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 90%

Admission

 CBC Bethel
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 302 3,318
Admitted 140 3,224
Acceptance Rate 46.4% 97.2%
Enrolled % 74.3% 12.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.15 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/22 16/24
SAT Range 925/1145 625/1100
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2026

Academics

 CBC Bethel
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (33%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (18%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Human Services (8%)
  • Business (78%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Biology (3%)
  • Health Professions (3%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)

Outcomes

 CBC Bethel
Graduation Rate 35% 32%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,100 $42,700
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $28,250
Median Loan Payment $258 $292

Diversity

 CBC Bethel
% Men 7% 3%
% Women 6% 5%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 46%
% Black 24% 40%
% Hispanic 3% 1%
% Native American 2% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 5%
% Two or More Races 1% 1%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 5%

Students

 CBC Bethel
% In-State 74% 80%
% Out-of-State 25% 19%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bethel University is larger than than CBC based on total student enrollment (2,974 students vs. 550 students)

CBC vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CBC or Bethel?

  • Central Baptist College is 7.6% more expensive to attend than Bethel for in-state tuition ($18,150.00 vs. $16,870.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.6% higher at CBC than Bethel University ($18,150.00 vs. $16,870.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Baptist College than Bethel ($16,672 vs. $20,606)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Baptist College are 24% lower than costs at Bethel University ($8,500 vs. $10,537)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central Baptist College than Bethel University (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Baptist College students is 4.7% larger than aid received Bethel University ($10,916 vs. $10,423)

CBC vs. Bethel Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Central Baptist College (968) is 40 points higher than at Bethel (928)
  • Incoming CBC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Bethel (20)
  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at CBC (3.15)
  • Bethel has a higher acceptance rate (97.2%) than CBC (46.4%)

CBC vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at CBC is higher than Bethel University (35% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn on average $2,600 more per year than CBC graduates after ten years. ($42,700 vs. $40,100)
  • Central Baptist College students graduate with a $3,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethel graduates. ($25,000 vs. $28,250)
  • CBC graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Bethel graduates. ($258 vs. $292)
  • More CBC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 33%)

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