Bethany Lutheran College

700 Luther Dr
Mankato, MN 56001

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 739 students (80% of students are full-time).

The college's student:teacher ratio of 14:1 is lower than the state community college average of 29:1.

Minority enrollment is 17% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 37%.

Bethany Lutheran College ranks among the top 20% of community colleges in Minnesota for:

The teacher population of 51 teachers has stayed relatively flat 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	51 staff	73 staff

The student population of Bethany Lutheran College has grown by 39% over five years.

The student:teacher ratio of 14:1 has increased from 8:1 over five years.

The Bethany Lutheran College diversity score of 0.30 is less than the state average of 0.58. The school's diversity has grown by 16% over five years.

Total Enrollment	739 students	1,859 students

Student : Teacher Ratio	14:1	29:1

# Full-Time Students	593 students	843 students

# Part-Time Students	146 students	1,016 students


Total Dormitory Capacity	524	96

% American Indian/Alaskan	-	1%

% Asian	1%	6%

% Hispanic	6%	6%

% Black	3%	11%

% White	83%	63%

% Two or more races	3%	4%

% Non Resident races	3%	3%

% Unknown races	1%	6%

Diversity Score	0.30	0.58

Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)	$37,600	$35,400

The private state tuition of $24,450 is more than the state average of $17,414. The private state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.

Private State Tuition Fees	$24,450	$17,414

% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid	99%	85%

Median Debt for Graduates	$23,000	$13,350

Median Debt for Dropouts	$6,539	$7,508

Acceptance Rate	78%	80%

SAT Reading	585	585

SAT Math	560	560

ACT Total Avg.	71	71
ACT Composite	24	24

ACT English	24	24

ACT Math	23	23

Source: 2019 (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.

The nearest community college to Bethany Lutheran College is Rasmussen College-Mankato (2.7 miles away).