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Bethany Lutheran College vs Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Mankato MN · vs · Public, Cloquet MN

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College comes closer — median earnings $45,665 against a $25,354 total, vs $46,110 at Bethany Lutheran College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureBethany Lutheran CollegeFond du Lac Tribal and Community College
Net price / yr$20,148$12,677
Total net cost$80,592$25,354
Median earnings, 10 yrs$46,110$45,665
Median debt$23,000$14,181
Payback
20-year net return-$125,592-$79,254

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Bethany Lutheran College or Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College?

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, at $12,677 a year after aid versus $20,148 — a gap of $7,471 a year, or $55,238 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Bethany Lutheran College or Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College graduates earn more?

Bethany Lutheran College graduates report a median $46,110 ten years after entry, $445 more than the $45,665 at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.

Which leaves students with less debt, Bethany Lutheran College or Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College?

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College: its completers carry a median $14,181 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Bethany Lutheran College, a difference of $8,819. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

55% of students finish at Bethany Lutheran College, against 26% at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.

Bethany Lutheran College vs Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Bethany Lutheran College or Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College a better value?
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Bethany Lutheran College or Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College?
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College: $12,677/yr net price after aid versus $20,148/yr at Bethany Lutheran College — a difference of $7,471 a year, or about $55,238 over four years.
Do Bethany Lutheran College or Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College graduates earn more?
Bethany Lutheran College graduates earn a median $46,110 ten years after entry, versus $45,665 at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College — a $445 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.