Bethany Lutheran College
- Bethany Lutheran College, owned and operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, is a private, residential, liberal arts college committed to the teachings of the Bible as set forth in the Lutheran Confessions. Bethany provides studies culminating in a bachelor of arts degree. The college serves Lutherans and others by offering a challenging, student-centered approach to education that fosters spiritual development, intellectual and creative growth, self-understanding, and responsible citizenship. In keeping with its heritage, Bethany aspires to produce students with a clear understanding of Christian vocation, which calls people to make the most of their God-given talents in whatever walk of life they pursue.
School Highlights
Bethany Lutheran College serves 741 students (80% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 5:1 is lower than the state community college average of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 28% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 37%.
Top Rankings
Bethany Lutheran College ranks among the top 20% of community colleges in Minnesota for:
- Category Attribute
- School Resources Percent of students receiving financial aid
School Overview
The teacher population of 140 teachers has grown by 84% over five years.
| Bethany Lutheran College | (MN) Community College Avg. | |
| Carnegie Classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Traditional |
| Institution Level | Four or more years | At least 2 but less than 4 years |
| Institution Control | Private not-for-profit | Public |
| Total Faculty | 140 staff | 153 staff |
| School Calendar | Link to School Calendar | |
Source: 2020 (or latest year available) IPEDS
School Notes
- Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) is a private, residential, Christian, coeducational, liberal arts college founded in 1927, owned and operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Bethany is located in the heart of Mankato, whose new tag line 'A little Twin Cities. A lot Minnesota' accurately describes this thriving community of over 44,000 residents. Nestled in the beautiful Minnesota River Valley, the city combines the safety and security of a small town with the social and cultural advantages of a large city. The fifty-acre campus of Bethany Lutheran College overlooks the Minnesota River Valley in Mankato, Minnesota, a community of approximately forty thousand people. In 1911, Bethany Ladies College opened with forty-four students and four faculty members, and a mission to educate young women. In 1927 the Norwegian Synod, later known as the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS), purchased the college. The ELS operated the school as a co-educational high school and junior college until 1969, when the high school department was closed. Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary began in 1946 as a department of the college; in 1975 it became a separate institution. Bethany Lutheran College is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Nearby Schools
The nearest community college to Bethany Lutheran College is Rasmussen College-Mankato (2.7 miles away).
- College Location Mi. Students
- Rasmussen College-MankatoPrivate, for profit690 students | 2.70 Mi130 Saint Andrews Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
(507) 625-6556 2.70690 - South Central CollegePublic2,775 students | 2.70 Mi1920 Lee Blvd
North Mankato, MN 56003
(507) 389-7200 2.702,775 - ITT Technical Institute-Eden PrairiePrivate, for profit216 students | 56.10 Mi7905 Golden Triangle Drive, Suite 100
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
(952) 914-5300 56.10216 - 9,743 students | 56.30 Mi9700 France Ave S
Bloomington, MN 55431
(952) 358-8200 56.309,743 - Academy CollegePrivate for-profit105 students | 58.60 Mi1600 W. 82nd Street, Suite 100
Bloomington, MN 55431
(952) 851-0066 58.60105
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