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%.
Quick Stats (2022-23)
- Enrollment: 741 students
- Private-state tuition: $24,450
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Student:teacher ratio: 5:1
- Minority enrollment: 28%
- Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
Top Rankings
Bethany Lutheran College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Minnesota for:
Category
Attribute
School Resources
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
Student Body
The student population of Bethany Lutheran College has grown by 39% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 5:1 has decreased from 10:1 over five years.
The Bethany Lutheran College diversity score of 0.46 is less than the state average of 0.57. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
741 students
2,525 students
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
17:1
# Full-Time Students
591 students
1,109 students
# Part-Time Students
150 students
1,416 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
520 students
112 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
6%
% Hispanic
6%
7%
% Black
3%
13%
% White
72%
63%
% Two or more races
3%
4%
% Non Resident races
12%
1%
% Unknown races
2%
5%
Diversity Score
0.46
0.57
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$37,600
$36,900
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
The private state tuition of $24,450 is more than the state average of $17,208. The private state tuition has declined by 5% over four years.
Private State Tuition Fees
$24,450
$17,208
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
99%
84%
Median Debt for Graduates
$24,344
$12,000
Median Debt for Dropouts
$6,500
$7,309
Acceptance Rate
73%
80%
SAT Reading
585
585
SAT Math
560
560
SAT Writing
n/a
565
ACT Total Avg.
71
71
ACT Composite
24
24
ACT English
24
24
ACT Math
23
23
ACT Writing
n/a
8
Source: 2020 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators
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.
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