VCM vs. BLC

Deciding between VanderCook College of Music 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.

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • VCM Chicago, IL
  • BLC Mankato, MN
  • Setting
  • VCM Large City
  • BLC Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • VCM 323
  • BLC 899
  • Type
  • VCM Private 4 Year
  • BLC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • VCM
  • BLC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • VCM -
  • BLC Other (none of the above)
  • Status
  • VCM Non-profit
  • BLC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • VCM
  • BLC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • BLC $31,360
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • BLC $31,360
  • Room & Board
  • VCM $14,008
  • BLC $8,620
  • Average Net Price
  • VCM $21,306
  • BLC $21,127
  • Average Grant Aid
  • VCM $23,317
  • BLC $19,865
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • VCM 100%
  • BLC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • VCM 38
  • BLC 1,319
  • Admitted
  • VCM 34
  • BLC 514
  • Acceptance Rate
  • VCM 89.5%
  • BLC 39%
  • Enrolled
  • VCM 44.1%
  • BLC 34%
  • Typical SAT score
  • VCM 1030
  • BLC 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • VCM 17
  • BLC 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • VCM 3.1
  • BLC 3.51
  • Typical High School Grades
  • VCM B
  • BLC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • VCM Extremely Easy
  • BLC Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • VCM
  • BLC High
  • ACT Range
  • VCM 15/20
  • BLC 21/26
  • SAT Range
  • VCM 890/1160
  • BLC 1040/1180
  • Submit Test Scores
  • VCM Test optional
  • BLC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • VCM Apr 1, 2027
  • BLC Jul 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • VCM 5:1
  • BLC 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • VCM
    • Education (100%)
  • BLC
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (10%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • VCM 45%
  • BLC 53%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • VCM N/A
  • BLC $37,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • VCM 66%
  • BLC 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • VCM $27,000
  • BLC $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • VCM $279
  • BLC $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • VCM 47%
  • BLC 45%
  • % Women
  • VCM 53%
  • BLC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • VCM High
  • BLC Very Low
  • HBCU
  • VCM No
  • BLC No
  • % White
  • VCM 62%
  • BLC 88%
  • % Asian
  • VCM 2%
  • BLC 0%
  • % Black
  • VCM 8%
  • BLC 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • VCM 21%
  • BLC 3%
  • % Native American
  • VCM 0%
  • BLC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • VCM 0%
  • BLC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • VCM 4%
  • BLC 1%
  • % International
  • VCM 2%
  • BLC 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • VCM 2%
  • BLC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • VCM 73%
  • BLC 59%
  • % Out-of-State
  • VCM 27%
  • BLC 23%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL with Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bethany Lutheran College is larger than VCM based on total student enrollment (899 students vs. 323 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • VanderCook College of Music is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Bethany Lutheran College is in Mankato, MN (Remote Town setting).
  • VanderCook College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bethany Lutheran College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: VanderCook College of Music 5:1; Bethany Lutheran College 12:1.

VCM vs. BLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCM 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 Bethany Lutheran College than VCM ($21,127 vs. $21,306).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethany Lutheran College are 38.5% lower than at VanderCook College of Music ($8,620 vs. $14,008).
  • Bethany Lutheran College is 1.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than VCM (about $450 more per year; $31,360.00 vs. $30,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.5% higher at BLC than at VanderCook College of Music (about $450 more per year; $31,360.00 vs. $30,910.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at VanderCook College of Music as at Bethany Lutheran College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by VanderCook College of Music students is 17.4% larger than aid received by Bethany Lutheran College students ($23,317 vs. $19,865).

VCM vs. BLC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, VCM 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 VCM.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bethany Lutheran College (1110) is 80 points higher than at VCM (1030).
  • Incoming BLC students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 17 at VCM).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: VanderCook College of Music 890/1160; Bethany Lutheran College 1040/1180.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: VanderCook College of Music 15/20; Bethany Lutheran College 21/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: VCM - Test optional; BLC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VCM Apr 1, 2027; BLC Jul 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BLC students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.51) than students at VCM (3.1).
  • VCM has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than BLC (39%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 44.1% at VCM vs. 34% at BLC.

VCM vs. BLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for VCM 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 VanderCook College of Music's (45%).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bethany Lutheran College graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than VCM graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, BLC graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VCM graduates ($240 vs. $279).
  • More BLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCM students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 66%)

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.