Bethel University vs Nashville Auto-Diesel 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 $46,396 at Nashville Auto-Diesel College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bethel University | Nashville Auto-Diesel College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,595 | $32,544 |
| Total net cost | $50,380 | $130,176 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,482 | $46,396 |
| Median debt | $27,249 | $11,730 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$67,940 | -$169,456 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bethel University or Nashville Auto-Diesel College?
Bethel University, at $12,595 a year after aid versus $32,544 — a gap of $19,949 a year, or $79,796 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 Nashville Auto-Diesel College graduates earn more?
Bethel University graduates report a median $47,482 ten years after entry, $1,086 more than the $46,396 at Nashville Auto-Diesel 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 Nashville Auto-Diesel College?
Nashville Auto-Diesel College: its completers carry a median $11,730 in federal loans versus $27,249 at Bethel University, a difference of $15,519. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Nashville Auto-Diesel College, against 35% at Bethel University. 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.