Iowa vs. Bethel University

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

Iowa Bethel University
Location Iowa City, IA Saint Paul, MN
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 30,015 3,546
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #224 #238
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uiowa.edu bethel.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Iowa Bethel University
Tuition (In State) $8,711 $41,110
Tuition (Out of State) $30,674 $41,110
Room & Board $11,476 $11,490
Avg Net Price $19,587 $29,915
Avg Grant Aid $9,959 $24,586
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 98%

Admission

Iowa Bethel University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,729 2,199
Admitted 22,128 1,594
Acceptance Rate 86% 72.5%
Enrolled % 23.4% 27.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.6
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/28 20/28
SAT Range 1130/1340 1123/1343
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 May 1, 2025 May 1, 2025

Academics

Iowa Bethel University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)

Outcomes

Iowa Bethel University
Graduation Rate 71% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,800 $50,100
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,616 $24,400
Median Loan Payment $223 $252

Diversity

Iowa Bethel University
% Men 44% 38%
% Women 56% 62%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 78%
% Black 3% 5%
% Hispanic 7% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 12% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 7%

Students

Iowa Bethel University
% In-State 54% 79%
% Out-of-State 45% 21%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Iowa is larger than than Bethel University based on total student enrollment (30,015 students vs. 3,546 students)

Iowa vs. Bethel University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa or Bethel University?

  • Bethel University is 371.9% more expensive to attend than Iowa for in-state tuition ($41,110.00 vs. $8,711.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 34% higher at Bethel University than University of Iowa ($41,110.00 vs. $30,674.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Iowa than Bethel University ($19,587 vs. $29,915)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Iowa are 0.1% lower than costs at Bethel University ($11,476 vs. $11,490)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bethel University than University of Iowa (98% vs. 82%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethel University students is 146.9% larger than aid received University of Iowa ($24,586 vs. $9,959)

Iowa vs. Bethel University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Iowa (1164) is 37 points higher than at Bethel University (1127)
  • Incoming Iowa students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Bethel University (25)
  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Bethel University (3.6)
  • Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Bethel University (72.5%)

Iowa vs. Bethel University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Iowa or Bethel University? 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 University and Iowa.

  • The graduation rate at Bethel University is higher than University of Iowa (73% vs. 71%)
  • Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $9,700 more per year than Bethel University graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $50,100)
  • University of Iowa students graduate with a $2,784 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethel University graduates. ($21,616 vs. $24,400)
  • Iowa graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Bethel University graduates. ($223 vs. $252)
  • More Bethel University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 70%)

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