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 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 Black), 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 to Bethany Lutheran College is Rasmussen College-Mankato (2.2 miles away).
Top Placements
Bethany Lutheran College places 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 51 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
| Bethany Lutheran College | (MN) Community College Avg. | |
| Institution Level | Four or more years | Four or more years |
| Institution Control | Private, non-profit | Public |
| Total Faculty | 51 staff | 56 staff |
| 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 | $35,400 |
Source: 2016 (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 (2.2 miles away).
- College Location Mi. Students
- Rasmussen College-MankatoPrivate, for profit690 students | 2.20 Mi130 Saint Andrews Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
(507)625-6556 2.20690 - South Central CollegePublic3,387 students | 2.80 Mi1920 Lee Blvd
Mankato, MN 56003
(507)389-7200 2.803,387 - ITT Technical Institute-Eden PrairiePrivate, for profit216 students | 56.00 Mi7905 Golden Triangle Drive, Suite 100
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
(952)914-5300 56.00216 - 9,539 students | 56.20 Mi9700 France Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55431
(952)358-8200 56.209,539 - 763 students | 59.20 Mi1401 W 76 St
Minneapolis, MN 55423
(612)861-2000 59.20763
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