Shorter vs. Bethel

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

Shorter Bethel
Location Rome, GA McKenzie, TN
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 1,447 2,974
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #977 #992
Religious Affiliation Baptist Cumberland Presbyterian - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website shorter.edu bethelu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Shorter Bethel
Tuition (In State) $23,514 $16,870
Tuition (Out of State) $23,514 $16,870
Room & Board $9,784 $10,537
Avg Net Price $16,692 $20,606
Avg Grant Aid $18,168 $10,423
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 90%

Admission

Shorter Bethel
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 783 3,318
Admitted 759 3,224
Acceptance Rate 96.9% 97.2%
Enrolled % 35.4% 12.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.25 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23 16/24
SAT Range 900/1130 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 25, 2025

Academics

Shorter Bethel
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (78%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Biology (3%)
  • Health Professions (3%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)

Outcomes

Shorter Bethel
Graduation Rate 47% 32%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,300 $42,700
Making Student Loan Payments 38% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $28,418 $28,250
Median Loan Payment $293 $292

Diversity

Shorter Bethel
% Men 4% 3%
% Women 5% 5%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 46%
% Black 24% 40%
% Hispanic 5% 1%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 5%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

Shorter Bethel
% In-State 81% 80%
% Out-of-State 16% 19%

Campus

Shorter 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 Shorter based on total student enrollment (2,974 students vs. 1,447 students)

Shorter vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Shorter or Bethel?

  • Shorter University is 39.4% more expensive to attend than Bethel for in-state tuition ($23,514.00 vs. $16,870.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 39.4% higher at Shorter than Bethel University ($23,514.00 vs. $16,870.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shorter University than Bethel ($16,692 vs. $20,606)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shorter University are 7.7% lower than costs at Bethel University ($9,784 vs. $10,537)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shorter University than Bethel University (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shorter University students is 74.3% larger than aid received Bethel University ($18,168 vs. $10,423)

Shorter vs. Bethel Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Shorter University (969) is 41 points higher than at Bethel (928)
  • Incoming Shorter students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Bethel (20)
  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Shorter (3.25)
  • Bethel has a higher acceptance rate (97.2%) than Shorter (96.9%)

Shorter vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Shorter 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 Shorter.

  • The graduation rate at Shorter is higher than Bethel University (47% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from Shorter University earn on average $6,600 more per year than Bethel graduates after ten years. ($49,300 vs. $42,700)
  • Bethel University students graduate with a $168 lower median federal student loan debt than Shorter graduates. ($28,250 vs. $28,418)
  • Bethel graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Shorter graduates. ($292 vs. $293)
  • More Shorter graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 33%)

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