Bethel University vs Tennessee Wesleyan University: 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 $45,989 at Tennessee Wesleyan University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bethel University | Tennessee Wesleyan University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,595 | $14,836 |
| Total net cost | $50,380 | $59,344 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,482 | $45,989 |
| Median debt | $27,249 | $20,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$67,940 | -$106,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bethel University or Tennessee Wesleyan University?
Bethel University, at $12,595 a year after aid versus $14,836 — a gap of $2,241 a year, or $8,964 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 Tennessee Wesleyan University graduates earn more?
Bethel University graduates report a median $47,482 ten years after entry, $1,493 more than the $45,989 at Tennessee Wesleyan University. 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 Tennessee Wesleyan University?
Tennessee Wesleyan University: its completers carry a median $20,000 in federal loans versus $27,249 at Bethel University, a difference of $7,249. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
48% of students finish at Tennessee Wesleyan University, 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.