Eureka College vs. Bethel

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

 Eureka College Bethel
Location Eureka, IL McKenzie, TN
Setting Town Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 527 2,974
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #992
Religious Affiliation Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Cumberland Presbyterian - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eureka.edu bethelu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Eureka College Bethel
Tuition (In State) $27,450 $16,870
Tuition (Out of State) $27,450 $16,870
Room & Board $10,542 $10,537
Avg Net Price $20,215 $20,606
Avg Grant Aid $18,303 $10,423
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 90%

Admission

 Eureka College Bethel
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,041 3,318
Admitted 921 3,224
Acceptance Rate 88.5% 97.2%
Enrolled % 14% 12.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.22 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/23 16/24
SAT Range 870/1155 625/1100
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2026

Academics

 Eureka College Bethel
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • History (8%)
  • Business (78%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Biology (3%)
  • Health Professions (3%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)

Outcomes

 Eureka College Bethel
Graduation Rate 65% 32%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,800 $42,700
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,375 $28,250
Median Loan Payment $262 $292

Diversity

 Eureka College Bethel
% Men 1% 3%
% Women 0% 5%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 84% 46%
% Black 5% 40%
% Hispanic 3% 1%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 5%
% Two or More Races 4% 1%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

 Eureka College Bethel
% In-State 86% 80%
% Out-of-State 14% 19%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bethel University is larger than than Eureka College based on total student enrollment (2,974 students vs. 527 students)

Eureka College vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Eureka College or Bethel?

  • Eureka College is 62.7% more expensive to attend than Bethel for in-state tuition ($27,450.00 vs. $16,870.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 62.7% higher at Eureka College than Bethel University ($27,450.00 vs. $16,870.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eureka College than Bethel ($20,215 vs. $20,606)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethel University are 0% lower than costs at Eureka College ($10,537 vs. $10,542)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eureka College than Bethel University (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eureka College students is 75.6% larger than aid received Bethel University ($18,303 vs. $10,423)

Eureka College vs. Bethel Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Eureka College (1033) is 105 points higher than at Bethel (928)
  • Incoming Eureka College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Bethel (20)
  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Eureka College (3.22)
  • Bethel has a higher acceptance rate (97.2%) than Eureka College (88.5%)

Eureka College vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Eureka College 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 Eureka College.

  • The graduation rate at Eureka College is higher than Bethel University (65% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn on average $3,900 more per year than Eureka College graduates after ten years. ($42,700 vs. $38,800)
  • Eureka College students graduate with a $2,875 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethel graduates. ($25,375 vs. $28,250)
  • Eureka College graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than Bethel graduates. ($262 vs. $292)
  • More Eureka College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 33%)

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