Luther College vs Bethel University
Luther College and Bethel University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Luther College, nestled in Decorah, Iowa, boasts a lower acceptance rate of 72%, indicating its selectivity in admissions. Bethel University, located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, has a higher acceptance rate of 84%, making it a more accessible option. While Luther College excels in the liberal arts and sciences, Bethel University emphasizes business, nursing, and education. Luther College's student body is predominantly White (89%), while Bethel University's student body is more diverse, with 73% White, 10% Black, and 7% Hispanic students. Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with Luther College at 79% and Bethel University at 75%. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details and discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Bethel University |
![]() Luther College |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Decorah, Iowa |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Town: Remote |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | 4-1-4 |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 86.0% | 84.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Baptist | Evangelical |
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 88.7% | 76.1% |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | 1123 - 1343 | 1088 - 1318 |
ACT range | 20 - 28 | 22 - 29 |
Students submitting SAT score | 4.0% | 8.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 57.0% | 37.0% |
Total number of applicants | 2,050 | 2,495 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,818 | 1,898 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 504 | 444 |
Yield rate | 27.7% | 23.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $55,228 | $61,175 |
Average net price | $28,840 | $25,929 |
Tuition | $39,920 | $46,130 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,990
Meal plan:
$5,160
|
Room/dormitory:
$4,870
Meal plan:
$5,490
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $24,534 |
100.0%
Average amount $34,281 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
65.0%
Average amount $5,559 |
69.0%
Average amount $5,292 |
Students taking out private loans |
17.0%
Average amount $15,453 |
13.0%
Average amount $13,652 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
2,653
Men 38.9% Women 61.1% |
1,744
Men 43.4% Women 56.6% |
Graduate students |
1,078
Men 32.5% Women 67.5% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Very Low
|
Out-of-state students | 22.4% | 70.5% |
International students | 0.8% | 9.9% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 1,819 | 2,156 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Minnesota Wisconsin Iowa South Dakota Illinois | Minnesota Iowa Wisconsin Illinois California |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 11:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 74.3% | 72.5% |
Dropout rate | 25.0% | 27.4% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Theological and Ministerial Studies (Master's Degrees)
|
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
































































































































































































































