Bethel College-North Newton
North Newton, Kansas · Private Nonprofit · 93.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 30/100 · Poor Value
Bethel College-North Newton is a small Mennonite liberal arts institution in south-central Kansas enrolling roughly 504 students. Its sticker tuition of $35,014 is softened only marginally by financial aid — the average net price sits at $32,917, making it one of the pricier options relative to what graduates earn. Median earnings six years after enrollment land at $36,600, and the payback period stretches to 18.2 years, well above national norms. The college's roiScore of 30 (Poor Value) reflects a 41% completion rate — meaning fewer than half of enrollees finish — combined with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.656. The bright spot is the Registered Nursing program, where early-career median earnings of $68,369 stand in sharp contrast to the institutional median. With 40% of students receiving Pell Grants, the campus serves a meaningful share of lower-income students, but the financial returns for most graduates do not justify the $131,668 four-year total cost. Prospective students should run the net price calculator carefully and consider whether Bethel's faith-based mission and tight-knit community environment outweigh the financial headwinds documented in this data.
The data raises concerns about Bethel College-North Newton
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score30/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period18.2 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Bethel College-North Newton
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $35,014/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $35,014/yr |
| Average net price | $32,917/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $131,668 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $49,898 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $254 |
| Estimated payback period | 18.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 41.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 504 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Bethel College-North Newton is $35,014/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $32,917/year, or roughly $131,668 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $35,147/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $32,270/year.
The median graduate leaves with $24,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $254 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $49,898 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.66 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $35,147 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $32,633 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $33,019 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $31,293 |
| $110,001+ | $32,270 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from families earning under $30,000 face a net price of $35,147 — paradoxically higher than the institutional average net price of $32,917. This is unusual and warrants scrutiny: Pell Grants and need-based aid are not keeping pace with the listed cost. With median earnings at $36,600 six years out, a low-income student borrowing the median $24,000 will still find debt payments consuming a large share of early income.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the $48,001–$75,000 range pay an average net price of $33,019 — essentially full freight with minimal discount. Over four years that totals roughly $132,000 including living costs. Given median six-year earnings of $36,600, this cohort faces a payback period exceeding 18 years. The calculus only improves meaningfully for students who complete nursing or another health-field program.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income students ($110,001-plus) see a net price near $32,270, offering little discount differentiation from lower brackets. For families who can absorb the cost, the question becomes whether Bethel's mission alignment and community experience hold sufficient non-monetary value to justify the investment, given that earnings outcomes rank below median among all institution types at this cost level.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at Bethel College-North Newton with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $48,612 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $75,293 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Bethel's strongest ROI program by a significant margin. Graduates earn a median of $68,369 just one year out and $75,293 at four years, against median debt of $27,000 — a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.395 (grade B). With only nine recent graduates in the dataset, the cohort is small, but the earnings trajectory is consistent with regional nursing labor markets. Nursing students should verify clinical placement availability given the college's rural Kansas location.
Business Administration and Management
Business graduates earn $34,879 at one year and $48,612 at four years with $27,000 in median debt, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.774 (grade D). The earnings gap relative to nursing is stark — business majors earn roughly half as much early on while carrying similar debt. Prospective business students should weigh whether the Bethel credential and campus culture justify costs that are difficult to recover within a reasonable timeframe compared to lower-cost public alternatives.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | N/A | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | N/A | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 78.2% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 76.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 93.5% |
| Enrollment | 504 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 40.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,033 |
With a 93.5% admission rate, Bethel-North Newton is effectively open-enrollment. No SAT/ACT data are reported, indicating standardized tests are not a meaningful filter. Acceptance alone does not guarantee degree completion — the 41% completion rate is the more critical planning variable. Students should factor in the high net price relative to post-graduation earnings before committing.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Compared to peer schools such as Baker University and Benedictine College — similarly sized faith-based Kansas colleges — Bethel-North Newton's 41% completion rate and 18.2-year payback period place it near the bottom of its cohort on financial outcomes. Benedictine College, for example, posts higher completion rates and broader program breadth at comparable tuition. Students weighing Bethel should request direct comparisons on net price, completion, and program-specific earnings before enrolling.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel College-North Newton (this school) | 30 | $32,917 | $49,898 |
| Baker University | 65 | $25,301 | $63,855 |
| Benedictine College | 45 | $27,891 | $53,175 |
| Ozark Christian College | 32 | $20,580 | $41,297 |
| Calumet College of Saint Joseph | 29 | $22,451 | $46,945 |
| Blue Mountain Christian University | 27 | $24,016 | $40,421 |
Who Thrives Here
Bethel College-North Newton suits students who prize a Mennonite faith community, small class sizes, and personalized faculty attention, and who plan to pursue nursing or another health-care field where the earnings premium is clear. Students enrolling in non-health programs should enter with a realistic plan to manage a debt-to-earnings ratio that exceeds 0.65 at the institutional level. The 93% admission rate signals open access, but a completion rate of 41% suggests many students face academic or financial obstacles before finishing their degree.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Bethel College-North Newton. With a net cost of $32,917 per year and median graduate earnings of only $49,898 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 18.2 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 41.1% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,000 against $49,898 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.