Friends University vs Bethany College: which has better ROI?
Friends University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $110,860 in 29.5 years versus 83 years at Bethany College, on median earnings of $52,113 vs $49,694 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Friends University | Bethany College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,715 | $27,686 |
| Total net cost | $110,860 | $110,744 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,113 | $49,694 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 29.5 yrs | 83 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$35,800 | -$84,064 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Friends University or Bethany College?
Bethany College, at $27,686 a year after aid versus $27,715 — a gap of $29 a year, or $116 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Friends University or Bethany College graduates earn more?
Friends University graduates report a median $52,113 ten years after entry, $2,419 more than the $49,694 at Bethany 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, Friends University or Bethany College?
Bethany College: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Friends University, a difference of $1,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
43% of students finish at Friends University, against 36% at Bethany 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.