Hope College vs. Bethel University

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

 Hope College Bethel University
Location Holland, MI Saint Paul, MN
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,251 3,546
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #275 #238
Religious Affiliation Reformed Church in America Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hope.edu bethel.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Hope College Bethel University
Tuition (In State) $37,990 $41,110
Tuition (Out of State) $37,990 $41,110
Room & Board $11,900 $11,490
Avg Net Price $25,800 $29,915
Avg Grant Aid $24,880 $24,586
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

 Hope College Bethel University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,152 2,199
Admitted 4,145 1,594
Acceptance Rate 80.5% 72.5%
Enrolled % 23% 27.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.83 3.6
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 24/31 20/28
SAT Range 1090/1330 1123/1343
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 May 1, 2025

Academics

 Hope College Bethel University
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Physical Sciences (6%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)

Outcomes

 Hope College Bethel University
Graduation Rate 79% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,500 $50,100
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,400
Median Loan Payment $279 $252

Diversity

 Hope College Bethel University
% Men 39% 38%
% Women 61% 62%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 78%
% Black 3% 5%
% Hispanic 8% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 7%

Students

 Hope College Bethel University
% In-State 68% 79%
% Out-of-State 32% 21%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bethel University is larger than than Hope College based on total student enrollment (3,546 students vs. 3,251 students)

Hope College vs. Bethel University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hope College or Bethel University?

  • Bethel University is 8.2% more expensive to attend than Hope College for in-state tuition ($41,110.00 vs. $37,990.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.2% higher at Bethel University than Hope College ($41,110.00 vs. $37,990.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Hope College than Bethel University ($25,800 vs. $29,915)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethel University are 3.6% lower than costs at Hope College ($11,490 vs. $11,900)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Hope College than Bethel University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hope College students is 1.2% larger than aid received Bethel University ($24,880 vs. $24,586)

Hope College vs. Bethel University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Hope College (1205) is 78 points higher than at Bethel University (1127)
  • Incoming Hope College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Bethel University (25)
  • Accepted freshman Hope College students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Bethel University (3.6)
  • Hope College has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than Bethel University (72.5%)

Hope College vs. Bethel University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Hope College or Bethel University? 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 University and Hope College.

  • The graduation rate at Hope College is higher than Bethel University (79% vs. 73%)
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn on average $2,600 more per year than Hope College graduates after ten years. ($50,100 vs. $47,500)
  • Bethel University students graduate with a $2,600 lower median federal student loan debt than Hope College graduates. ($24,400 vs. $27,000)
  • Bethel University graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than Hope College graduates. ($252 vs. $279)
  • More Hope College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel University students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 80%)

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