Central vs. Bethel

Deciding between University of Central Missouri 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.

University of Central Missouri

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Central Warrensburg, MO
  • Bethel McKenzie, TN
  • Setting
  • Central Rural Fringe
  • Bethel Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Central 12,857
  • Bethel 2,936
  • Type
  • Central Public 4 Year
  • Bethel Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Central #723
  • Bethel #966
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Central -
  • Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian
  • Status
  • Central Non-profit
  • Bethel Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Central
  • Bethel

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Central $10,050
  • Bethel $18,712
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Central $18,600
  • Bethel $18,712
  • Room & Board
  • Central $10,740
  • Bethel $10,538
  • Average Net Price
  • Central $14,943
  • Bethel $13,112
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Central $7,811
  • Bethel $17,700
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Central 96%
  • Bethel 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Central 5,647
  • Bethel 1,486
  • Admitted
  • Central 3,603
  • Bethel 895
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Central 63.8%
  • Bethel 60.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Central 28.6%
  • Bethel 32.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Central
  • Bethel 980
  • Typical ACT score
  • Central 22
  • Bethel 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • Central 3.68
  • Bethel 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Central A-
  • Bethel A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Central Easy
  • Bethel Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Central Low
  • Bethel Low
  • ACT Range
  • Central 19/25
  • Bethel 15/21
  • SAT Range
  • Central
  • Bethel 830/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Central Test optional
  • Bethel Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Central
  • Bethel

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Central 18:1
  • Bethel 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Central
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Bethel
    • Business (78%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (3%)
    • Health Professions (3%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Central 50%
  • Bethel 32%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Central $41,500
  • Bethel $42,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Central 59%
  • Bethel 33%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Central $22,441
  • Bethel $28,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Central $232
  • Bethel $292

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Central 46%
  • Bethel 46%
  • % Women
  • Central 54%
  • Bethel 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Central Low
  • Bethel High
  • HBCU
  • Central No
  • Bethel No
  • % White
  • Central 77%
  • Bethel 46%
  • % Asian
  • Central 1%
  • Bethel 0%
  • % Black
  • Central 11%
  • Bethel 40%
  • % Hispanic
  • Central 4%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Native American
  • Central 0%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Central 0%
  • Bethel 5%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Central 4%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % International
  • Central 2%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Central 1%
  • Bethel 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Central 82%
  • Bethel 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Central 15%
  • Bethel 11%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Central Yes
  • Bethel Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Central No
  • Bethel No
  • Meal Plan
  • Central Yes
  • Bethel Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Central Yes
  • Bethel Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Central Yes
  • Bethel No

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO with Bethel University in McKenzie, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Central Missouri is larger than Bethel based on total student enrollment (12,857 students vs. 2,936 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Central Missouri is located in Warrensburg, MO (Rural Fringe setting); Bethel University is in McKenzie, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Central Missouri is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bethel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Central Missouri 18:1; Bethel University 15:1.

Central vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central 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 Bethel University than Central ($13,112 vs. $14,943).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethel University are 1.9% lower than at University of Central Missouri ($10,538 vs. $10,740).
  • Bethel University is 86.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Central (about $8,662 more per year; $18,712.00 vs. $10,050.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.6% higher at Bethel than at University of Central Missouri (about $112 more per year; $18,712.00 vs. $18,600.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bethel University than at University of Central Missouri (98% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethel University students is 126.6% larger than aid received by University of Central Missouri students ($17,700 vs. $7,811).

Central vs. Bethel Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central 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 Central.

  • Incoming Central students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 18 at Bethel).
  • 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: University of Central Missouri 19/25; Bethel University 15/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Central - Test optional; Bethel - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Central students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Bethel (3.6).
  • Central has a higher acceptance rate (63.8%) than Bethel (60.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.6% at Central vs. 32.2% at Bethel.

Central vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Central 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).

  • University of Central Missouri's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Bethel University's (32%).
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Central graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,700 vs. $41,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Central Missouri graduates have a $5,809 lower median loan debt than Bethel graduates ($22,441 vs. $28,250).
  • Among borrowers, Central graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bethel graduates ($232 vs. $292).
  • More Central graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (59% 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.