Wheaton College vs. Bethel University

Should I go to Wheaton College or Bethel University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Wheaton 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Wheaton College vs. Bethel University comparison
Wheaton College Bethel University College 3 College 4
Wheaton College Bethel University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Wheaton College Bethel University
Location Wheaton, IL Saint Paul, MN
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,885 3,546
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #166 #238
Religious Affiliation Undenominational Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wheaton.edu bethel.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wheaton College Bethel University
Tuition (In State) $41,990 $41,110
Tuition (Out of State) $41,990 $41,110
Room & Board $11,690 $11,490
Avg Net Price $29,961 $29,915
Avg Grant Aid $24,272 $24,586
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

Wheaton College Bethel University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,893 2,199
Admitted 1,674 1,594
Acceptance Rate 88.4% 72.5%
Enrolled % 30.1% 27.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.6
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/33 20/28
SAT Range 1250/1430 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 Aug 1, 2025 May 1, 2025

Academics

Wheaton College Bethel University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)

Outcomes

Wheaton College Bethel University
Graduation Rate 87% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,300 $50,100
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $24,400
Median Loan Payment $232 $252

Diversity

Wheaton College Bethel University
% Men 43% 38%
% Women 57% 62%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 78%
% Black 3% 5%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 7%

Students

Wheaton College Bethel University
% In-State 23% 79%
% Out-of-State 70% 21%

Campus

Wheaton 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 Wheaton College based on total student enrollment (3,546 students vs. 2,885 students)

Wheaton College vs. Bethel University Cost Comparison

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

  • Wheaton College is 2.1% more expensive to attend than Bethel University for in-state tuition ($41,990.00 vs. $41,110.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.1% higher at Wheaton College than Bethel University ($41,990.00 vs. $41,110.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethel University than Wheaton College ($29,915 vs. $29,961)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethel University are 1.7% lower than costs at Wheaton College ($11,490 vs. $11,690)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wheaton College than Bethel University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethel University students is 1.3% larger than aid received Wheaton College ($24,586 vs. $24,272)

Wheaton College vs. Bethel University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Wheaton College (1314) is 187 points higher than at Bethel University (1127)
  • Incoming Wheaton College students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Bethel University (25)
  • Accepted freshman Wheaton College students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Bethel University (3.6)
  • Wheaton College has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than Bethel University (72.5%)

Wheaton College vs. Bethel University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wheaton 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 Wheaton College.

  • The graduation rate at Wheaton College is higher than Bethel University (87% vs. 73%)
  • Graduates from Wheaton College earn on average $4,200 more per year than Bethel University graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $50,100)
  • Wheaton College students graduate with a $1,900 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethel University graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,400)
  • Wheaton College graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than Bethel University graduates. ($232 vs. $252)
  • More Wheaton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel University students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 80%)

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