Columbus State vs. Bethel

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

Columbus State Bethel
Location Columbus, GA McKenzie, TN
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 7,479 4,686
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #995 #1002
Religious Affiliation - Cumberland Presbyterian - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbusstate.edu bethelu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbus State Bethel
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $16,222
Tuition (Out of State) $15,425 $16,222
Room & Board $12,080 $13,446
Avg Net Price $12,902 $13,858
Avg Grant Aid $9,147 $13,396
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 96%

Admission

Columbus State Bethel
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,870 2,489
Admitted 3,398 2,210
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 88.8%
Enrolled % 30.4% 20.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.07 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/23 16/22
SAT Range 900/1130 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 Jun 30, 2025

Academics

Columbus State Bethel
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)
  • Business (78%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Biology (3%)
  • Health Professions (3%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)

Outcomes

Columbus State Bethel
Graduation Rate 31% 32%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $42,700
Making Student Loan Payments 37% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $28,250
Median Loan Payment $268 $292

Diversity

Columbus State Bethel
% Men 40% 46%
% Women 60% 54%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 51% 46%
% Black 37% 40%
% Hispanic 6% 1%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 5%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 5%

Students

Columbus State Bethel
% In-State 92% 80%
% Out-of-State 5% 19%

Campus

Columbus State 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

  • Columbus State University is larger than than Bethel based on total student enrollment (7,479 students vs. 4,686 students)

Columbus State vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or Bethel?

  • Bethel University is 271.1% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($16,222.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.2% higher at Bethel than Columbus State University ($16,222.00 vs. $15,425.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than Bethel ($12,902 vs. $13,858)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus State University are 11.3% lower than costs at Bethel University ($12,080 vs. $13,446)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbus State University than Bethel University (98% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethel University students is 46.5% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($13,396 vs. $9,147)

Columbus State vs. Bethel Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbus State University (961) is 33 points higher than at Bethel (928)
  • Incoming Columbus State students have at the same average ACT score (20) as students at Bethel (20)
  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Columbus State (3.07)
  • Bethel has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than Columbus State (87.8%)

Columbus State vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbus State 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 Columbus State.

  • The graduation rate at Bethel is higher than Columbus State University (32% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn on average $5,300 more per year than Columbus State graduates after ten years. ($42,700 vs. $37,400)
  • Columbus State University students graduate with a $2,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethel graduates. ($26,000 vs. $28,250)
  • Columbus State graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Bethel graduates. ($268 vs. $292)
  • More Columbus State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 33%)

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