That is what we are going to do here with Bethany Lutheran College, in Mankato, Minnesota. I am not going to tell you whether it is the right school for your child. No article knows that, and no one knows it except the two of you. But when you finish reading this, you will understand the landscape much better than you did before, and that is already an advantage many families do not have.
What Kind of School It Is, in a Few Words
The federal system that classifies colleges in the United States—known as the Carnegie Classification—places Bethany Lutheran College in the category of a baccalaureate college focused on arts and sciences. It is a four-year, very small, highly residential school: that last point means that, at the time of the most recent report, at least half of its undergraduate students lived in housing owned by or affiliated with the institution, and eight out of ten attended full time. In its undergraduate profile, Carnegie also identifies it as a selective-admission school.
If your child is going to live on campus, this matters: room and board are almost never included in the first number you see in the brochure. They are charged separately, and you need to request those figures separately before comparing this school with any other on your list.
The school is in Mankato, within Blue Earth County, in the Mankato metropolitan area. Its census code places it within a city, although that does not tell you how to get to campus from where your family lives. If your child plans to live at home while attending, do yourself a favor: drive the route on a weekday at the exact time your child would have class. The actual travel time is almost never what the map says.
Institutionally, it is a private, nonprofit college offering programs of four years or more. IPEDS—the federal system that compiles these data—records a master’s degree as the highest level it reports offering and classifies it as an institution that awards degrees primarily at the bachelor’s level or above. That does not tell you whether the exact major your child is interested in exists there or whether there is a pathway connecting that bachelor’s degree to a graduate program. That must be confirmed program by program, not through this general classification.
And one thing worth clarifying at the outset: Bethany Lutheran College is not recorded as a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Tribal College or University, or land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 colleges in this national directory, 138 do have at least one of those three designations. Its not having one does not tell you which students it serves, how many Latino students are on campus, or how your child will feel there. Ask directly: what cultural centers exist today, which student organizations are active, and what does someone already studying there tell you?
The Size of the Community Your Child Would Join
Bethany Lutheran College is small. In the official fall count, it had 902 enrolled students, with 850 undergraduates and 52 graduate students: it is primarily a bachelor’s-degree school. Compared with the 941 private, selective-admission, four-year schools in this census that report the figure, it is on the smaller side: seven out of ten of those schools, or more, have more students.
Being small does not make it better or worse. What you should ask is something very specific: whether the courses for the major your child is interested in are offered every semester or only once a year. That largely determines how long it actually takes to graduate.
As for who makes up the undergraduate population: 8 out of every 100 students are Hispanic or Latino. It is a small minority, and compared with the 941 similar schools in this census that report the figure, it falls below the group’s midpoint, though not in the lowest quarter. There are almost no adult students—only 3 out of every 100 are between the ages of 25 and 64—and the undergraduate population is nearly evenly split between men and women, with women accounting for 52 out of every 100 students. Just over half of first-time students, 54 out of every 100, reported a permanent address in Minnesota when they applied for admission.
If your child will be one of the few Latino students on that campus, this does not disqualify the school, but it does warrant a direct question during the visit: what exists today for Latino students, what student group or cultural center is available, and whether anyone in the office speaks Spanish. The number describes the school as a whole; your child’s individual experience may look different.
How the Academic Year Works and How Broad the Offerings Are
The calendar is organized by semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. The institution reported that it accepts credit for AP exams and military training, but it did not indicate that it accepts credit for life experience. It also reported enrolling high school students in college courses for credit through a formal dual-enrollment program.
Here is a warning that can be worth real money: saying that they accept AP does not mean they award credit for every exam. The report does not say what scores they require, how many credits they award, or whether those credits count toward your child’s specific major. Request the equivalency evaluation in writing before enrollment. Do not budget for the savings until you have it in hand.
As for degree offerings: in the most recent year reported, the school awarded 115 bachelor’s degrees across 21 program families, using the federal CIP classification. The family awarding the most degrees was business and management, accounting for 22 out of every 100 degrees that year, but no other family accounts for the bulk of them: the offerings are distributed rather than concentrated. Compared with 942 similar schools, it falls within the quarter with the most program families represented in its detailed data. But be careful: 21 families with a row in the report do not equal 21 majors in the current catalog, and a row may show zero degrees for that year. Verify the exact program your child is interested in, not the general category.
As for the student-to-faculty ratio: it is 12 full-time-equivalent students for each full-time-equivalent faculty member. That is a low ratio in absolute terms, but compared with schools of the same type, it is above the median—half or more of those schools reported a ratio that was the same or lower. Both things are true at the same time, which is why I am showing them separately. What this number does not tell you is the actual size of a classroom. IPEDS does not report first-year class sizes.
Academic Pathways the School Reports Offering
Bethany Lutheran College reports offering study abroad, noncredit developmental education, teacher-certification preparation below the postsecondary level, the option to complete preparation there in certain teacher-specialization areas, and state approval of its initial teacher-certification program. If any of these pathways is relevant to your child, this provides a concrete starting point for asking the school directly how it works today, what the requirements are, and what the timelines are.
How Admission Works: Requirements, Rates, and What Actually Determines the Decision
Here is something many families do not expect: there is no undergraduate application fee. The published fee is $0.
Bethany Lutheran College does not have open admission. It reviews several components before saying yes. Of nine possible admission considerations—not counting standardized tests or legacy status—it marked three as required: the high school record, high school GPA, and an English-proficiency exam for applicants to whom it applies. The following are not required, but the school does consider them if you submit them: completion of the college-preparatory coursework it requests, a personal essay, and letters of recommendation.
If your child studied outside the United States or attended high school in Spanish, ask now whether the English-proficiency exam applies and what qualifies for an exemption. This college marked it as required when applicable, and it is one of those things families discover late, when time is already short.
In the 2023 cycle, the school received 881 first-time applications and offered admission to 449 applicants. That is 51 out of every 100: the result is nearly split in half. Compared with 942 similar schools in this census, it is on the lower side for acceptance—seven out of ten of those schools, or more, accepted a larger percentage of applicants. Admission is neither guaranteed nor a lottery. The application is reviewed.
But being admitted is not the same as enrolling, and here is one of the most useful figures in this entire overview: of the first-time students admitted in 2023, only 42 out of every 100 enrolled. The other 58 did not attend classes there. Compared with similar schools, the share who did enroll is on the higher side—at most of those schools, a smaller share of admitted students enrolled. This percentage does not measure quality, prestige, or whether people were satisfied. It only counts how many attended classes. When the admission letters arrive, this number is not what will decide for you: place the offers side by side and compare net price, major, and distance before the deposit deadline.
As for standardized tests: the SAT and ACT are not required. If your child submits them, the school will consider them; if not, the application remains fully valid. Among those who enrolled, only 11 out of every 100 submitted SAT scores, and the percentiles calculated from that sample came from just 20 students: a genuinely small sample. The middle half scored between 450 and 630 in reading and writing and between 550 and 630 in mathematics. With such a small group, do not turn those numbers into a threshold your child must exceed or a guarantee if your child reaches them.
As for transfers: of the bachelor’s-degree-seeking cohort that entered in 2017, 20 out of every 100 transferred without completing a degree there and enrolled at another school. It is a common proportion, slightly below the midpoint among similar schools. Changing colleges is not the same as failing. What is worth doing is making sure your child knows in advance how to request the documents needed to leave, in case that becomes necessary. Separately, in the fall of 2023, 35 students entered this school for the first time after studying elsewhere. That figure does not say how many courses the school accepted: request that determination in writing, with the course list in hand, before anyone moves.
The Sticker Price and What Each Family Actually Pays
At Bethany Lutheran College, among 16 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $15,667. Among 22 students in the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $16,099; among 33 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $23,753. For dependent students, the income band combines their parents’ income with their own.
The difference between the average for the lowest-income band (16 students) and the highest-income band (33 students) is $8,086. Among first-time students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $19,456.
$15,667 was the average net price for the lowest-income families in academic year 2022-23. That does not mean it is what your family will pay. It helps you determine whether it is worth requesting the financial aid letter.
None of these figures is a price quote for your child. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average for students receiving grant aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The figure that matters is the financial aid letter sent to you. In the meantime, use the net price calculator on the school’s website.
Where the Money Other Families Received Comes From
At Bethany Lutheran College, 99 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received some form of grant or scholarship aid that does not have to be repaid. Receiving something is the norm, not the exception. Among those who received it, the average for the year was $19,834—keep in mind that this average is only for those who received something, not spread across all students.
The federal Pell Grant, which goes to students with demonstrated financial need, reached 27 out of every 100 students. That is a smaller proportion than the share receiving total aid. The difference may come from state, institutional, or other sources that this breakdown does not allow you to attribute precisely. Ask directly which programs account for that difference and what requirements each one has.
Be careful not to read a high aid figure as a promise. It is what happened with other students in the 2022-23 year. It is neither your probability nor your amount. Ask in writing which applications must be completed, what the deadlines are, and what happens to the scholarship if your child’s grades fall.
As for loans: 42 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal student loan that year. That is more than two out of ten, but less than half. Among those who borrowed, the average that year was $5,853. Compared with similar schools, this share of students with loans is on the lower side.
Here is a truth that does not soften the number but does put it in context: this percentage describes other families, not yours. The amount your child would have to borrow comes from your child’s own financial aid letter, not from this average. And that average, moreover, covers only one year and only federal loans in the student’s name. It does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes end up signing for, bank debt, or the total debt with which someone graduates after several years. That number is not in this report.
The institution also reports two specific mechanisms for managing payment: a tuition installment plan and participation in a Promise program. It is worth asking about both by their exact names.
Campus Life, Course Modality, and Available Support
Bethany Lutheran College does have institution-owned housing. It does not require all first-time students to live there—it explicitly said so in its report—but that does not tell you whether a particular program or year does require it, so ask about your child’s specific situation. The reported capacity of institution-controlled housing is 497 students. It also offers meal plans, with a fixed number of meals per week under the largest plan. The existence of housing does not guarantee that a bed will be available; ask for the rate for the year, the application deadline, and whether a space is guaranteed or there is a waiting list.
As for ROTC: an opportunity is available, and the only branch marked is Army. Navy and Air Force are not marked. That does not mean they are impossible, only that they are not confirmed in this report, which also does not clarify whether the program is completed on this campus or another one. Ask about it by its exact name.
The school competes in intercollegiate athletics and is affiliated with the NCAA. The report confirms NCAA or NAIA membership for basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. If your child plays one of these sports or another sport, write directly to the coach: ask whether there is a place on the team, which division it competes in, and whether that sport offers athletic scholarships. Request the answer in writing.
As for distance education: it is offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In the fall count, 10 out of every 100 undergraduate students took their entire course load remotely, while 90 attended at least one class in person. The school reported that it does not offer a complete program in which every course can be taken remotely. If the delivery format matters for your family’s life, confirm the exact level and program.
The library operates with paid staff, its annual spending exceeded the $100,000 threshold recorded by the government, and it offers physical and digital materials as well as interlibrary lending. Exceeding that threshold does not guarantee the existence of specialized databases for your child’s major; ask about those by the name of the major.
Finally, the institution reports providing combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students, participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and military families, and a published web address for disability services.
How Many Stay and How Many Graduate
Here we reach the part every family asks about most: if your child enrolls, will your child stay? Will your child graduate?
Of the cohort that entered in the fall of 2022—176 first-time, full-time, bachelor’s-degree-seeking students—141 met the official retention criterion the following year: they were still enrolled or had already graduated. That is 80 out of every 100. Compared with 930 similar schools, it is slightly above the group’s midpoint: neither among the best nor among the worst, but right in the middle. What this number does not distinguish is how many of those 80 are still studying and how many have already graduated; it also does not say what happened to the other 35. Not returning is not the same as dropping out: someone who transferred and is continuing to study elsewhere counts the same in this figure as someone who stopped studying altogether.
As for graduation: of the 136 students who began bachelor’s-degree programs in 2017, 81 had graduated from this school within six years. That is 60 out of every 100. At four years—the timeframe most families have budgeted for—the figure falls to 43 out of every 100. The 17-point gap measures how much the share earning bachelor’s degrees increased between the four-year and six-year cutoffs for the same cohort. The data do not say how many semesters each person attended and do not report tuition, rent, or wages. Before signing, ask in writing how long the program your child is interested in usually takes in practice, how its required courses are scheduled, and how the total cost changes if it takes longer.
Compared with 920 similar schools, this six-year graduation rate is below the group’s midpoint: more than half of those schools reported a larger share of graduates.
There is a third, broader measure that follows students eight years after they entered. Of a cohort of 166 students who arrived between July 2015 and June 2016, 61 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this school by the August 2023 cutoff. Among Pell Grant recipients, the proportion was slightly higher: 63 out of every 100, three points above the group without Pell Grants. Compared with 935 similar schools, this eight-year figure is also below the group’s median.
The rest of that cohort does not fit neatly into a single category: 23 out of every 100 appear without a degree or certificate from this school, and 15 out of every 100 have unknown enrollment status. Unknown means, literally, that the report could not determine whether they remained enrolled anywhere; it does not mean that they dropped out, nor does it explain the reason. Before deciding with this figure in hand, ask directly about the specific support the school provides today and the most recent outcomes it can share with you.
What Comes Next Belongs to You and Your Child
You now know, in considerable detail, one of the three pieces you need to decide: what Bethany Lutheran College is, what it offers, what it costs on paper and what it has actually cost other families, and how often its students stay and graduate.
That piece is not the entire decision. What remains is what your child wants to study, what your child has built so far, and how far your child is willing to live from home. And what also remains is what your family can and is willing to pay, something no national average can tell you: only the financial aid letter that arrives with your child’s name.
If you are just beginning to build the college list, ask your child what they want to study and how far away they imagine living while doing so. If you already have the admission letter in hand, place the net price, major, and distance alongside the other options before the deposit deadline. And if you feel that you are running late, document what you have already done and what remains: it is almost always less than it seems.
Your child’s role is to study, explore, decide, and take responsibility for their part of the journey. Your role is to understand the family’s finances, provide support during the important decisions, and not leave your child alone to carry the weight of a system they are only beginning to learn how to navigate. It is not about doing it for your child. It is about doing it with your child.
Note on sources: the information in this article comes from official data reported by the institution to the U.S. Department of Education’s IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), corresponding primarily to the years 2022-23 and 2023-24. Best College Aid does not represent Bethany Lutheran College or any government agency, and this article is not a substitute for the direct, current information that only the college itself can confirm.