Bethel University vs Butler University
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Bethel University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Butler University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Bethel University at $35,430 vs Butler University at $28,260. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $54,900 vs $59,500.
| Metric | Bethel University | Butler University |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Private | Private |
| State | In | In |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $35,430 | $28,260* |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $54,900 | $59,500* |
| Majors Tracked | 20 | 20 |
| Best ROI Major | Applied Mathematics (91/100) | Computer and Information Sciences (94/100)* |
| Best Major Debt | $30,267 | $23,783* |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $78,000 | $95,000* |
Bethel University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Butler University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Bethel University at $35,430 vs Butler University at $28,260. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $54,900 vs $59,500.
Explore More
Bethel University and Butler University graduate students at similar rates — 100.0% and 100.0% respectively. With completion rates comparable, the comparison reduces to cost, earnings, and program mix; the institutional-effect-on-completion question essentially nets out.
Average debt loads run moderate but not equal — Butler University at $28,260 versus $35,430 at the alternative. At standard repayment terms the monthly difference is $76/month, which is real money over a decade but small enough that the program-fit and earnings considerations should usually outweigh it.
Earnings outcomes track closely — Bethel University and Butler University graduates report similar first-year wages. The school decision in cases like this is usually decided on non-financial axes (program quality, geography, fit) since the ROI math runs close enough to be inside the noise.
Both schools sit in In, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.