Wartburg College vs. Bethel University

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

Wartburg College Bethel University
Location Waverly, IA Saint Paul, MN
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,472 3,521
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #577 #320
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wartburg.edu bethel.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wartburg College Bethel University
Tuition (In State) $48,490 $42,760
Tuition (Out of State) $48,490 $42,760
Room & Board $11,062 $12,090
Avg Net Price $23,321 $30,375
Avg Grant Aid $38,519 $25,924
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 99%

Admission

Wartburg College Bethel University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,543 1,642
Admitted 2,528 1,494
Acceptance Rate 99.4% 91%
Enrolled % 16.8% 28.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.48 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/27 23/29
SAT Range 978/1235 1065/1240
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, 2026

Academics

Wartburg College Bethel University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)

Outcomes

Wartburg College Bethel University
Graduation Rate 63% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,100 $50,100
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,400
Median Loan Payment $279 $252

Diversity

Wartburg College Bethel University
% Men 0% 8%
% Women 1% 17%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 78%
% Black 5% 5%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 8% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 7%

Students

Wartburg College Bethel University
% In-State 66% 82%
% Out-of-State 29% 16%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bethel University is larger than than Wartburg College based on total student enrollment (3,521 students vs. 1,472 students)

Wartburg College vs. Bethel University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wartburg College or Bethel University?

  • Wartburg College is 13.4% more expensive to attend than Bethel University for in-state tuition ($48,490.00 vs. $42,760.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.4% higher at Wartburg College than Bethel University ($48,490.00 vs. $42,760.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wartburg College than Bethel University ($23,321 vs. $30,375)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wartburg College are 9.3% lower than costs at Bethel University ($11,062 vs. $12,090)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bethel University than Wartburg College (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wartburg College students is 48.6% larger than aid received Bethel University ($38,519 vs. $25,924)

Wartburg College vs. Bethel University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bethel University (1127) is 22 points higher than at Wartburg College (1105)
  • Incoming Bethel University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Wartburg College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Bethel University students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Wartburg College (3.48)
  • Wartburg College has a higher acceptance rate (99.4%) than Bethel University (91%)

Wartburg College vs. Bethel University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wartburg College 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 Wartburg College.

  • The graduation rate at Bethel University is higher than Wartburg College (73% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn on average $2,000 more per year than Wartburg College graduates after ten years. ($50,100 vs. $48,100)
  • Bethel University students graduate with a $2,600 lower median federal student loan debt than Wartburg College graduates. ($24,400 vs. $27,000)
  • Bethel University graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than Wartburg College graduates. ($252 vs. $279)
  • More Wartburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel University students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 80%)

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