LEC vs. Bethel

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

 LEC Bethel
Location Painesville, OH McKenzie, TN
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 942 2,974
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #992
Religious Affiliation - Cumberland Presbyterian - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lec.edu bethelu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 LEC Bethel
Tuition (In State) $34,596 $16,870
Tuition (Out of State) $34,596 $16,870
Room & Board $11,592 $10,537
Avg Net Price $22,322 $20,606
Avg Grant Aid $26,289 $10,423
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 90%

Admission

 LEC Bethel
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,193 3,318
Admitted 765 3,224
Acceptance Rate 64.1% 97.2%
Enrolled % 24.4% 12.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.19 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24 16/24
SAT Range 945/1115 625/1100
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 1, 2025

Academics

 LEC Bethel
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (36%)
  • Agriculture (12%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (78%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Biology (3%)
  • Health Professions (3%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)

Outcomes

 LEC Bethel
Graduation Rate 53% 32%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,600 $42,700
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $28,250
Median Loan Payment $279 $292

Diversity

 LEC Bethel
% Men 8% 3%
% Women 13% 5%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 77% 46%
% Black 10% 40%
% Hispanic 2% 1%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 5%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 5%

Students

 LEC Bethel
% In-State 54% 80%
% Out-of-State 40% 19%

Campus

 LEC 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 LEC based on total student enrollment (2,974 students vs. 942 students)

LEC vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LEC or Bethel?

  • Lake Erie College is 105.1% more expensive to attend than Bethel for in-state tuition ($34,596.00 vs. $16,870.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 105.1% higher at LEC than Bethel University ($34,596.00 vs. $16,870.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethel University than LEC ($20,606 vs. $22,322)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethel University are 10% lower than costs at Lake Erie College ($10,537 vs. $11,592)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lake Erie College than Bethel University (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Erie College students is 152.2% larger than aid received Bethel University ($26,289 vs. $10,423)

LEC vs. Bethel Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Lake Erie College (989) is 61 points higher than at Bethel (928)
  • Incoming LEC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Bethel (20)
  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at LEC (3.19)
  • Bethel has a higher acceptance rate (97.2%) than LEC (64.1%)

LEC vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, LEC 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 LEC.

  • The graduation rate at LEC is higher than Bethel University (53% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn on average $6,100 more per year than LEC graduates after ten years. ($42,700 vs. $36,600)
  • Lake Erie College students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethel graduates. ($27,000 vs. $28,250)
  • LEC graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Bethel graduates. ($279 vs. $292)
  • More LEC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 33%)

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