Henderson State University vs. Bethel

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

Henderson State University Bethel
Location Arkadelphia, AR McKenzie, TN
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 2,519 4,686
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #976 #1002
Religious Affiliation - Cumberland Presbyterian - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hsu.edu bethelu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Henderson State University Bethel
Tuition (In State) $5,880 $16,222
Tuition (Out of State) $8,088 $16,222
Room & Board $9,558 $13,446
Avg Net Price $17,656 $13,858
Avg Grant Aid $9,580 $13,396
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 96%

Admission

Henderson State University Bethel
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,345 2,489
Admitted 1,657 2,210
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 88.8%
Enrolled % 24.9% 20.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/21 16/22
SAT Range 903/1073 928/1130
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Henderson State University Bethel
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (78%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Biology (3%)
  • Health Professions (3%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)

Outcomes

Henderson State University Bethel
Graduation Rate 31% 32%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $42,700
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $28,250
Median Loan Payment $201 $292

Diversity

Henderson State University Bethel
% Men 40% 46%
% Women 60% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 66% 46%
% Black 24% 40%
% Hispanic 4% 1%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 5%
% Two or More Races 4% 1%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 5%

Students

Henderson State University Bethel
% In-State 81% 80%
% Out-of-State 19% 19%

Campus

Henderson State University 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 Henderson State University based on total student enrollment (4,686 students vs. 2,519 students)

Henderson State University vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Henderson State University or Bethel?

  • Bethel University is 175.9% more expensive to attend than Henderson State University for in-state tuition ($16,222.00 vs. $5,880.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 100.6% higher at Bethel than Henderson State University ($16,222.00 vs. $8,088.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethel University than Henderson State University ($13,858 vs. $17,656)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Henderson State University are 40.7% lower than costs at Bethel University ($9,558 vs. $13,446)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bethel University than Henderson State University (96% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethel University students is 39.8% larger than aid received Henderson State University ($13,396 vs. $9,580)

Henderson State University vs. Bethel Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Henderson State University (988) is 60 points higher than at Bethel (928)
  • Incoming Henderson State University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Bethel (20)
  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Henderson State University (3.23)
  • Bethel has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than Henderson State University (70.7%)

Henderson State University vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Henderson State University 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 Henderson State University.

  • The graduation rate at Bethel is higher than Henderson State University (32% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn on average $4,300 more per year than Henderson State University graduates after ten years. ($42,700 vs. $38,400)
  • Henderson State University students graduate with a $8,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethel graduates. ($19,500 vs. $28,250)
  • Henderson State University graduates are paying $91 less per month on federal student loans than Bethel graduates. ($201 vs. $292)
  • More Henderson State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 33%)

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