Bethany Lutheran College

700 Luther Dr
Mankato, MN 56001-0000

Tel: (507)344-7000

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 531 students (94% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 10:1 is lower than the state community college average of 30:1.
Minority enrollment is 14% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Asian), which is less than the state average of 27%.
Bethany Lutheran College is one of 2 community colleges within Blue Earth County, MN.
The nearest community college is Rasmussen College-Mankato (2.20 miles away).

The student population of 531 has declined by 12% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 10:1 has stayed the same over five years.
The school's diversity score of 0.26 is less than the state average of 0.45. The school's diversity has grown by 71% over five years.

Total Enrollment	531 students	1,302 students

Student : Teacher Ratio	10:1	30:1

# Full-Time Students	500 students	768 students

# Part-Time Students	31 students	534 students


Total Dormitory Capacity	467	124

% Asian	2%	5%

% Hispanic	3%	5%

% Black	2%	9%

% White	86%	73%

% Two or more races	3%	3%

% Non Resident races	1%	-

% Unknown races	3%	4%

Diversity Score	0.26	0.45

Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)	$37,600	$35,800

The private state tuition of $24,450 is more than the state average of $16,383. The private state tuition has grown by 9% over four years.

Private State Tuition Fees	$24,450	$16,383

% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid	100%	91%

Median Debt for Graduates	$25,000	$15,511

Median Debt for Dropouts	$6,500	$7,600

Acceptance Rate	78%	78%

ACT Total Avg.	71	71
ACT Composite	24	24

ACT English	24	24

ACT Math	23	23

Source: 2016 (or latest year available) IPEDS

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.