UIU vs. BLC

Deciding between Upper Iowa University and Bethany Lutheran College? 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.

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIU Fayette, IA
  • BLC Mankato, MN
  • Setting
  • UIU Remote Rural
  • BLC Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UIU 3,941
  • BLC 899
  • Type
  • UIU Private 4 Year
  • BLC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIU #938
  • BLC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIU -
  • BLC Other (none of the above)
  • Status
  • UIU Non-profit
  • BLC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIU
  • BLC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIU $19,475
  • BLC $31,360
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIU $19,475
  • BLC $31,360
  • Room & Board
  • UIU $10,121
  • BLC $8,620
  • Average Net Price
  • UIU $20,426
  • BLC $21,127
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIU $13,596
  • BLC $19,865
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIU 97%
  • BLC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIU 452
  • BLC 1,319
  • Admitted
  • UIU 436
  • BLC 514
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIU 96.5%
  • BLC 39%
  • Enrolled
  • UIU 33.9%
  • BLC 34%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIU 1070
  • BLC 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIU 17
  • BLC 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIU 3.34
  • BLC 3.51
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIU B+
  • BLC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIU Extremely Easy
  • BLC Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIU
  • BLC High
  • ACT Range
  • UIU 14/21
  • BLC 21/26
  • SAT Range
  • UIU 970/1160
  • BLC 1040/1180
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIU Test optional
  • BLC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIU
  • BLC Jul 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIU 25:1
  • BLC 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIU
    • Business (40%)
    • Human Services (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Education (5%)
  • BLC
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (10%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIU 45%
  • BLC 53%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIU $42,100
  • BLC $37,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIU 50%
  • BLC 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIU $24,000
  • BLC $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIU $248
  • BLC $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIU 43%
  • BLC 45%
  • % Women
  • UIU 57%
  • BLC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIU Medium
  • BLC Very Low
  • HBCU
  • UIU No
  • BLC No
  • % White
  • UIU 66%
  • BLC 88%
  • % Asian
  • UIU 1%
  • BLC 0%
  • % Black
  • UIU 19%
  • BLC 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIU 5%
  • BLC 3%
  • % Native American
  • UIU 0%
  • BLC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIU 0%
  • BLC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIU 2%
  • BLC 1%
  • % International
  • UIU 3%
  • BLC 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIU 3%
  • BLC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIU 50%
  • BLC 59%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIU 47%
  • BLC 23%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Upper Iowa University in Fayette, IA with Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Upper Iowa University is larger than BLC based on total student enrollment (3,941 students vs. 899 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Upper Iowa University is located in Fayette, IA (Remote Rural setting); Bethany Lutheran College is in Mankato, MN (Remote Town setting).
  • Upper Iowa University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bethany Lutheran College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Upper Iowa University 25:1; Bethany Lutheran College 12:1.

UIU vs. BLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIU or BLC? 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 Upper Iowa University than BLC ($20,426 vs. $21,127).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethany Lutheran College are 14.8% lower than at Upper Iowa University ($8,620 vs. $10,121).
  • Bethany Lutheran College is 61% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIU (about $11,885 more per year; $31,360.00 vs. $19,475.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 61% higher at BLC than at Upper Iowa University (about $11,885 more per year; $31,360.00 vs. $19,475.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bethany Lutheran College than at Upper Iowa University (100% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethany Lutheran College students is 46.1% larger than aid received by Upper Iowa University students ($19,865 vs. $13,596).

UIU vs. BLC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIU or BLC? 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 BLC and UIU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bethany Lutheran College (1110) is 40 points higher than at UIU (1070).
  • Incoming BLC students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 17 at UIU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Upper Iowa University 970/1160; Bethany Lutheran College 1040/1180.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Upper Iowa University 14/21; Bethany Lutheran College 21/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIU - Test optional; BLC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BLC Jul 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BLC students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.51) than students at UIU (3.34).
  • UIU has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than BLC (39%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.9% at UIU vs. 34% at BLC.

UIU vs. BLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIU and BLC? 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).

  • Bethany Lutheran College's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than Upper Iowa University's (45%).
  • Graduates from Upper Iowa University earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than BLC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,100 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bethany Lutheran College graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than UIU graduates ($23,250 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, BLC graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UIU graduates ($240 vs. $248).
  • More BLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIU students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 50%)

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.