Union College vs. Bethel

Should I go to Union College or Bethel University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Union College or Bethel is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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UT Martin Union University
Union College vs. Bethel University comparison
Union College Bethel University College 3 College 4
Union College
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Overview

 Union College Bethel
Location Barbourville, KY McKenzie, TN
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 970 4,686
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1002
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Cumberland Presbyterian - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website unionky.edu bethelu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Union College Bethel
Tuition (In State) $28,737 $16,222
Tuition (Out of State) $28,737 $16,222
Room & Board $8,261 $13,446
Avg Net Price $18,221 $13,858
Avg Grant Aid $23,168 $13,396
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

 Union College Bethel
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,142 2,489
Admitted 610 2,210
Acceptance Rate 53.4% 88.8%
Enrolled % 32.8% 20.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.15 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22 16/22
SAT Range 955/1148 928/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 Union College Bethel
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (24%)
  • Psychology (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (78%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Biology (3%)
  • Health Professions (3%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)

Outcomes

 Union College Bethel
Graduation Rate 32% 32%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $34,800 $42,700
Making Student Loan Payments 42% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $28,250
Median Loan Payment $248 $292

Diversity

 Union College Bethel
% Men 57% 46%
% Women 43% 54%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 72% 46%
% Black 12% 40%
% Hispanic 2% 1%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 5%
% Two or More Races 5% 1%
% International 8% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

 Union College Bethel
% In-State 58% 80%
% Out-of-State 28% 19%

Campus

 Union College Bethel
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bethel University is larger than than Union College based on total student enrollment (4,686 students vs. 970 students)

Union College vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Union College or Bethel?

  • Union College is 77.1% more expensive to attend than Bethel for in-state tuition ($28,737.00 vs. $16,222.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 77.1% higher at Union College than Bethel University ($28,737.00 vs. $16,222.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethel University than Union College ($13,858 vs. $18,221)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union College are 62.8% lower than costs at Bethel University ($8,261 vs. $13,446)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Union College than Bethel University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 72.9% larger than aid received Bethel University ($23,168 vs. $13,396)

Union College vs. Bethel Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Union College or Bethel? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bethel or Union College .

  • The average SAT score at Union College (970) is 42 points higher than at Bethel (928)
  • Incoming Union College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Bethel (20)
  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Union College (3.15)
  • Bethel has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than Union College (53.4%)

Union College vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Union College or Bethel? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Bethel and Union College.

  • The graduation rate at Union College is the same as at Bethel University (32% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn on average $7,900 more per year than Union College graduates after ten years. ($42,700 vs. $34,800)
  • Union College students graduate with a $4,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethel graduates. ($24,000 vs. $28,250)
  • Union College graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Bethel graduates. ($248 vs. $292)
  • More Union College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 33%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/