Mississippi Valley State University vs. Bethel

Deciding between Mississippi Valley State University and Bethel University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Mississippi Valley State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mississippi Valley State University Itta Bena, MS
  • Bethel McKenzie, TN
  • Setting
  • Mississippi Valley State University Remote Town
  • Bethel Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Mississippi Valley State University 2,205
  • Bethel 2,936
  • Type
  • Mississippi Valley State University Public 4 Year
  • Bethel Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mississippi Valley State University #1005
  • Bethel #966
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mississippi Valley State University -
  • Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian
  • Status
  • Mississippi Valley State University Non-profit
  • Bethel Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mississippi Valley State University
  • Bethel
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mississippi Valley State University $7,692
  • Bethel $18,712
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mississippi Valley State University $7,692
  • Bethel $18,712
  • Room & Board
  • Mississippi Valley State University $8,956
  • Bethel $10,538
  • Average Net Price
  • Mississippi Valley State University $10,232
  • Bethel $13,112
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mississippi Valley State University $10,933
  • Bethel $17,700
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mississippi Valley State University 100%
  • Bethel 98%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Mississippi Valley State University 1,141
  • Bethel 1,486
  • Admitted
  • Mississippi Valley State University 1,054
  • Bethel 895
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Mississippi Valley State University 92.4%
  • Bethel 60.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Mississippi Valley State University 32.3%
  • Bethel 32.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Mississippi Valley State University
  • Bethel 980
  • Typical ACT score
  • Mississippi Valley State University 17
  • Bethel 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • Mississippi Valley State University 2.9
  • Bethel 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Mississippi Valley State University B
  • Bethel A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Mississippi Valley State University Extremely Easy
  • Bethel Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Mississippi Valley State University
  • Bethel Low
  • ACT Range
  • Mississippi Valley State University 13/22
  • Bethel 15/21
  • SAT Range
  • Mississippi Valley State University
  • Bethel 830/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Mississippi Valley State University Test optional
  • Bethel Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Mississippi Valley State University
  • Bethel
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mississippi Valley State University 13:1
  • Bethel 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mississippi Valley State University
    • Education (29%)
    • Business (23%)
    • Human Services (19%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Bethel
    • Business (78%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (3%)
    • Health Professions (3%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Mississippi Valley State University 24%
  • Bethel 32%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mississippi Valley State University $26,600
  • Bethel $42,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mississippi Valley State University 35%
  • Bethel 33%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mississippi Valley State University $29,336
  • Bethel $28,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mississippi Valley State University $303
  • Bethel $292
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mississippi Valley State University 47%
  • Bethel 46%
  • % Women
  • Mississippi Valley State University 53%
  • Bethel 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mississippi Valley State University Extremely Low
  • Bethel High
  • HBCU
  • Mississippi Valley State University Yes
  • Bethel No
  • % White
  • Mississippi Valley State University 3%
  • Bethel 46%
  • % Asian
  • Mississippi Valley State University 0%
  • Bethel 0%
  • % Black
  • Mississippi Valley State University 92%
  • Bethel 40%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mississippi Valley State University 1%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Native American
  • Mississippi Valley State University 0%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mississippi Valley State University 0%
  • Bethel 5%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mississippi Valley State University 0%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % International
  • Mississippi Valley State University 0%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mississippi Valley State University 4%
  • Bethel 5%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mississippi Valley State University 40%
  • Bethel 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mississippi Valley State University 57%
  • Bethel 11%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Mississippi Valley State University Yes
  • Bethel Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Mississippi Valley State University No
  • Bethel No
  • Meal Plan
  • Mississippi Valley State University Yes
  • Bethel Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Mississippi Valley State University Yes
  • Bethel Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Mississippi Valley State University Yes
  • Bethel No
  • Learn More
  • Mississippi Valley State University Details
  • Bethel Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, MS with Bethel University in McKenzie, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bethel University is larger than Mississippi Valley State University based on total student enrollment (2,936 students vs. 2,205 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mississippi Valley State University is located in Itta Bena, MS (Remote Town setting); Bethel University is in McKenzie, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Mississippi Valley State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bethel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mississippi Valley State University 13:1; Bethel University 15:1.

Mississippi Valley State University vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mississippi Valley State University or Bethel? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mississippi Valley State University than Bethel ($10,232 vs. $13,112).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mississippi Valley State University are 15% lower than at Bethel University ($8,956 vs. $10,538).
  • Bethel University is 143.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mississippi Valley State University (about $11,020 more per year; $18,712.00 vs. $7,692.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 143.3% higher at Bethel than at Mississippi Valley State University (about $11,020 more per year; $18,712.00 vs. $7,692.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mississippi Valley State University than at Bethel University (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethel University students is 61.9% larger than aid received by Mississippi Valley State University students ($17,700 vs. $10,933).

Mississippi Valley State University vs. Bethel Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mississippi Valley State University or Bethel? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Bethel and Mississippi Valley State University.

  • Incoming Bethel students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (18 vs. 17 at Mississippi Valley State University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsBethel University 830/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mississippi Valley State University 13/22; Bethel University 15/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mississippi Valley State University - Test optional; Bethel - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.7 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Mississippi Valley State University (2.9).
  • Mississippi Valley State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.4%) than Bethel (60.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.3% at Mississippi Valley State University vs. 32.2% at Bethel.

Mississippi Valley State University vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mississippi Valley State University and Bethel? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Bethel University's six-year graduation rate (32%) is higher than Mississippi Valley State University's (24%).
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn a median of about $16,100 more per year than Mississippi Valley State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,700 vs. $26,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bethel University graduates have a $1,086 lower median loan debt than Mississippi Valley State University graduates ($28,250 vs. $29,336).
  • Among borrowers, Bethel graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mississippi Valley State University graduates ($292 vs. $303).
  • More Mississippi Valley State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 33%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.