Bethel College-North Newton — ROI, Cost & Payback
Bethel College-North Newton charges a net price of $32,917/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $131,668. Graduates earn a median $49,898 ten years after entry, $1,538/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 85.6 years — a 20-year net return of -$100,908, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Bethel College-North Newton's 85.6-year payback ranks #1,224 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 4% of them, and #22 of 57 in Kansas.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $32,917/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $131,668 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,898 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $1,538/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $24,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 85.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$100,908 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Bethel College-North Newton's own numbers. Net price $32,917 × 4 years = $131,668 total. Median earnings $49,898 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $1,538 a year of premium. $131,668 ÷ $1,538 = 85.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$100,908. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Bethel College-North Newton students graduate with?
A median $24,000 in federal loans among completers, or 48% of the $49,898 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Bethel College-North Newton students graduate?
41% finish their degree — 59% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $131,668 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $321,141 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Bethel College-North Newton expensive compared with other Kansas colleges?
Its $32,917 net price runs $17,637 above the $15,280 median across the 57 Kansas colleges we profile, or $70,548 more across the full degree.