Macalester College vs Bethel University: which has better ROI?
Bethel University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $114,224 in 7.4 years versus 8.3 years at Macalester College, on median earnings of $63,764 vs $63,878 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Macalester College | Bethel University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,149 | $28,556 |
| Total net cost | $128,596 | $114,224 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,878 | $63,764 |
| Median debt | $23,000 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 8.3 yrs | 7.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $181,764 | $193,856 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Macalester College or Bethel University?
Bethel University, at $28,556 a year after aid versus $32,149 — a gap of $3,593 a year, or $14,372 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Macalester College or Bethel University graduates earn more?
Macalester College graduates report a median $63,878 ten years after entry, $114 more than the $63,764 at Bethel 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, Macalester College or Bethel University?
Bethel University: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Macalester College, a difference of $1,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
87% of students finish at Macalester College, against 71% 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.