Bethel University vs Lane College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bethel University comes closer — median earnings $47,482 against a $50,380 total, vs $31,670 at Lane College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bethel University | Lane College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,595 | $10,904 |
| Total net cost | $50,380 | $43,616 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,482 | $31,670 |
| Median debt | $27,249 | $30,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$67,940 | -$377,416 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bethel University or Lane College?
Lane College, at $10,904 a year after aid versus $12,595 — a gap of $1,691 a year, or $6,764 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Bethel University or Lane College graduates earn more?
Bethel University graduates report a median $47,482 ten years after entry, $15,812 more than the $31,670 at Lane 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, Bethel University or Lane College?
Bethel University: its completers carry a median $27,249 in federal loans versus $30,500 at Lane College, a difference of $3,251. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
35% of students finish at Bethel University, against 18% at Lane 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.