CMU - CLAS vs. Bethel

Should I go to Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences or Bethel University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CMU - CLAS 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 Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences vs. Bethel University comparison
Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Bethel University College 3 College 4
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Overview

 CMU - CLAS Bethel
Location Fayette, MO McKenzie, TN
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 1,080 4,686
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #781 #1002
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Cumberland Presbyterian - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website centralmethodist.edu bethelu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 CMU - CLAS Bethel
Tuition (In State) $26,360 $16,222
Tuition (Out of State) $26,360 $16,222
Room & Board $8,910 $13,446
Avg Net Price $24,828 $13,858
Avg Grant Aid $18,044 $13,396
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

 CMU - CLAS Bethel
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,166 2,489
Admitted 1,141 2,210
Acceptance Rate 97.9% 88.8%
Enrolled % 25.8% 20.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23 16/22
SAT Range 930/1090 928/1130
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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 CMU - CLAS Bethel
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Business (78%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Biology (3%)
  • Health Professions (3%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)

Outcomes

 CMU - CLAS Bethel
Graduation Rate 43% 32%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,600 $42,700
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,875 $28,250
Median Loan Payment $174 $292

Diversity

 CMU - CLAS Bethel
% Men 48% 46%
% Women 52% 54%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 78% 46%
% Black 8% 40%
% Hispanic 3% 1%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 5%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 5%

Students

 CMU - CLAS Bethel
% In-State 59% 80%
% Out-of-State 27% 19%

Campus

 CMU - CLAS 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 CMU - CLAS based on total student enrollment (4,686 students vs. 1,080 students)

CMU - CLAS vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMU - CLAS or Bethel?

  • Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is 62.5% more expensive to attend than Bethel for in-state tuition ($26,360.00 vs. $16,222.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 62.5% higher at CMU - CLAS than Bethel University ($26,360.00 vs. $16,222.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethel University than CMU - CLAS ($13,858 vs. $24,828)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences are 50.9% lower than costs at Bethel University ($8,910 vs. $13,446)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences than Bethel University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences students is 34.7% larger than aid received Bethel University ($18,044 vs. $13,396)

CMU - CLAS vs. Bethel Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (1043) is 115 points higher than at Bethel (928)
  • Incoming CMU - CLAS students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Bethel (20)
  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at CMU - CLAS (3.5)
  • CMU - CLAS has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than Bethel (88.8%)

CMU - CLAS vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CMU - CLAS 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 CMU - CLAS.

  • The graduation rate at CMU - CLAS is higher than Bethel University (43% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn on average $4,100 more per year than CMU - CLAS graduates after ten years. ($42,700 vs. $38,600)
  • Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences students graduate with a $11,375 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethel graduates. ($16,875 vs. $28,250)
  • CMU - CLAS graduates are paying $118 less per month on federal student loans than Bethel graduates. ($174 vs. $292)
  • More CMU - CLAS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 33%)

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