Bethel University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Bethel University charges a net price of $18,610/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $74,440. Graduates earn a median $48,860 ten years after entry, $500/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 148.9 years — a 20-year net return of -$64,440, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Bethel University's 148.9-year payback ranks #1,243 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 3% of them, and #29 of 56 in Indiana.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $18,610/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $74,440 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $48,860 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $500/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 148.9 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$64,440 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Bethel University's own numbers. Net price $18,610 × 4 years = $74,440 total. Median earnings $48,860 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $500 a year of premium. $74,440 ÷ $500 = 148.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$64,440. 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 University students graduate with?
A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 51% of the $48,860 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Bethel University students graduate?
53% finish their degree — 47% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $74,440 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $140,453 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Bethel University expensive compared with other Indiana colleges?
Its $18,610 net price runs $1,088 below the $19,698 median across the 56 Indiana colleges we profile, and $4,350 less across the full degree.