KWC vs. Bethel

Deciding between Kentucky Wesleyan College and Bethel University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Kentucky Wesleyan College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • KWC Owensboro, KY
  • Bethel McKenzie, TN
  • Setting
  • KWC Small City
  • Bethel Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • KWC 887
  • Bethel 2,936
  • Type
  • KWC Private 4 Year
  • Bethel Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • KWC
  • Bethel #966
  • Religious Affiliation
  • KWC United Methodist
  • Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian
  • Status
  • KWC Non-profit
  • Bethel Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • KWC
  • Bethel

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • KWC $34,673
  • Bethel $18,712
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • KWC $34,673
  • Bethel $18,712
  • Room & Board
  • KWC $11,855
  • Bethel $10,538
  • Average Net Price
  • KWC $20,999
  • Bethel $13,112
  • Average Grant Aid
  • KWC $25,538
  • Bethel $17,700
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • KWC 100%
  • Bethel 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • KWC 2,113
  • Bethel 1,486
  • Admitted
  • KWC 1,513
  • Bethel 895
  • Acceptance Rate
  • KWC 71.6%
  • Bethel 60.2%
  • Enrolled
  • KWC 17.7%
  • Bethel 32.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • KWC 1010
  • Bethel 980
  • Typical ACT score
  • KWC 19
  • Bethel 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • KWC 3.3
  • Bethel 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • KWC B+
  • Bethel A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • KWC Extremely Easy
  • Bethel Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • KWC Low
  • Bethel Low
  • ACT Range
  • KWC 16/23
  • Bethel 15/21
  • SAT Range
  • KWC 890/1130
  • Bethel 830/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • KWC Test optional
  • Bethel Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • KWC
  • Bethel

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • KWC 15:1
  • Bethel 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • KWC
    • Education (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Bethel
    • Business (78%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (3%)
    • Health Professions (3%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • KWC 44%
  • Bethel 32%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • KWC $38,500
  • Bethel $42,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • KWC 54%
  • Bethel 33%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • KWC $22,907
  • Bethel $28,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • KWC $236
  • Bethel $292

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • KWC 50%
  • Bethel 46%
  • % Women
  • KWC 50%
  • Bethel 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • KWC Low
  • Bethel High
  • HBCU
  • KWC No
  • Bethel No
  • % White
  • KWC 73%
  • Bethel 46%
  • % Asian
  • KWC 0%
  • Bethel 0%
  • % Black
  • KWC 15%
  • Bethel 40%
  • % Hispanic
  • KWC 1%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Native American
  • KWC 0%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • KWC 0%
  • Bethel 5%
  • % Two or More Races
  • KWC 0%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % International
  • KWC 0%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • KWC 9%
  • Bethel 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • KWC 56%
  • Bethel 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • KWC 38%
  • Bethel 11%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • KWC Yes
  • Bethel Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • KWC No
  • Bethel No
  • Meal Plan
  • KWC Yes
  • Bethel Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • KWC No
  • Bethel Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • KWC No
  • Bethel No

Comparable Facts

Compare Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY with Bethel University in McKenzie, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bethel University is larger than KWC based on total student enrollment (2,936 students vs. 887 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is located in Owensboro, KY (Small City setting); Bethel University is in McKenzie, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bethel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kentucky Wesleyan College 15:1; Bethel University 15:1.

KWC vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KWC or Bethel? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethel University than KWC ($13,112 vs. $20,999).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethel University are 11.1% lower than at Kentucky Wesleyan College ($10,538 vs. $11,855).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is 85.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bethel (about $15,961 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $18,712.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 85.3% higher at KWC than at Bethel University (about $15,961 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $18,712.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kentucky Wesleyan College than at Bethel University (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kentucky Wesleyan College students is 44.3% larger than aid received by Bethel University students ($25,538 vs. $17,700).

KWC vs. Bethel Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, KWC or Bethel? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Bethel and KWC.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Kentucky Wesleyan College (1010) is 30 points higher than at Bethel (980).
  • Incoming KWC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (19 vs. 18 at Bethel).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Kentucky Wesleyan College 890/1130; Bethel University 830/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Kentucky Wesleyan College 16/23; Bethel University 15/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: KWC - Test optional; Bethel - Test optional.
  • Enrolled freshman Bethel students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at KWC (3.3).
  • KWC has a higher acceptance rate (71.6%) than Bethel (60.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at KWC vs. 32.2% at Bethel.

KWC vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for KWC and Bethel? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Kentucky Wesleyan College's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Bethel University's (32%).
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than KWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,700 vs. $38,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kentucky Wesleyan College graduates have a $5,343 lower median loan debt than Bethel graduates ($22,907 vs. $28,250).
  • Among borrowers, KWC graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bethel graduates ($236 vs. $292).
  • More KWC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 33%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.