McPherson College vs. Bethany College

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

McPherson College Bethany College
Location McPherson, KS Bethany, WV
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 822 623
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Church of Brethren Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcpherson.edu bethanywv.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

McPherson College Bethany College
Tuition (In State) $32,494 $30,720
Tuition (Out of State) $32,494 $30,720
Room & Board $9,918 $11,900
Avg Net Price $25,065 $17,605
Avg Grant Aid $21,916 $30,005
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

McPherson College Bethany College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,445 2,651
Admitted 952 1,721
Acceptance Rate 65.9% 64.9%
Enrolled % 26.3% 10.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 2.85
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 17/23 18/26
SAT Range 908/1120 870/1110
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

McPherson College Bethany College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Human Services (8%)

Outcomes

McPherson College Bethany College
Graduation Rate 46% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,200 $44,000
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $30,884
Median Loan Payment $268 $319

Diversity

McPherson College Bethany College
% Men 67% 56%
% Women 33% 44%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 70% 51%
% Black 10% 18%
% Hispanic 12% 5%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 20%

Students

McPherson College Bethany College
% In-State 31% 22%
% Out-of-State 62% 68%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • McPherson College is larger than than Bethany College based on total student enrollment (822 students vs. 623 students)

McPherson College vs. Bethany College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McPherson College or Bethany College?

  • McPherson College is 5.8% more expensive to attend than Bethany College for in-state tuition ($32,494.00 vs. $30,720.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.8% higher at McPherson College than Bethany College ($32,494.00 vs. $30,720.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethany College than McPherson College ($17,605 vs. $25,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McPherson College are 20% lower than costs at Bethany College ($9,918 vs. $11,900)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at McPherson College as Bethany College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethany College students is 36.9% larger than aid received McPherson College ($30,005 vs. $21,916)

McPherson College vs. Bethany College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at McPherson College (940) is 33 points higher than at Bethany College (907)
  • Incoming McPherson College students have at the same average ACT score (20) as students at Bethany College (20)
  • Accepted freshman McPherson College students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at Bethany College (2.85)
  • McPherson College has a higher acceptance rate (65.9%) than Bethany College (64.9%)

McPherson College vs. Bethany College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, McPherson College or Bethany College? 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 Bethany College and McPherson College.

  • The graduation rate at Bethany College is higher than McPherson College (48% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from McPherson College earn on average $200 more per year than Bethany College graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $44,000)
  • McPherson College students graduate with a $4,884 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethany College graduates. ($26,000 vs. $30,884)
  • McPherson College graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than Bethany College graduates. ($268 vs. $319)
  • More McPherson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethany College students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 56%)

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