ACCEPTANCE RATE
60.5%
More selective than 69% of listed universities.
SelectiveAccessible
Private University
Bethany College
Bethany College is a private nonprofit four-year institution located in Bethany, West Virginia. This small liberal arts college offers personalized support and a wide range of majors within a caring community.
Bethany, WVrural, fringe
60.5%ACCEPTANCE
$16,844AVG NET PRICE
46%GRAD RATE
671STUDENTS
University data profileIPEDS 2023
THE SIGNATURE
Bethany College Report Card
Explore university facts, programs, and campus life at a glance.
Bethany College is a private nonprofit four-year institution situated in the rolling hills of the Allegheny Mountains. Founded in 1840 by Alexander Campbell, it holds historic significance as West Virginia's only degree-granting institution of higher education when the state formed in 1863. The campus spans 1,300 acres and features a tradition of making big dreams come true for students entering through the Oglebay Gates.
Academically, the college provides a well-rounded liberal arts education with small classes designed to foster personal development and leadership. Students can choose from twenty-six undergraduate majors that prepare them for fulfilling careers beyond graduation. The institution maintains a strong connection to its roots in the Christian Church while welcoming students from diverse religious backgrounds or those exploring their faith.
Located just an hour's drive from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the campus offers easy access to vibrant cultural scenes and entertainment. Nearby historic Wheeling provides additional opportunities for shopping and dining. This setting allows students to balance a focused academic environment with proximity to major urban amenities.
AT A GLANCE
TypePrivateFour or more years
Settingrural, fringe
Calendarsemester
Religious affiliationChristian Church (Disciples of Christ)
AthleticsNCAA Division III
GETTING IN
Admissions
Bethany College accepts approximately 60.5% of applicants from a pool of roughly 2,435 students each year. The institution is currently accepting applications for Fall 2027 and encourages prospective students to submit their FAFSA early to maximize financial aid opportunities.
Source: IPEDS 2023
APPLICATION FEE
No application fee.
WHAT IT COSTS
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker price tells you little — net price after aid is what most families actually pay.
Source: IPEDS 2023
IN-STATE TUITION & FEES
$34,126/yr
Out-of-state: $34,126/yr.
Net price by income band
$9,618$0–$30,000
$10,220$30,001–$48,000
$14,911$48,001–$75,000
$20,457$75,001–$110,000
$23,711$110,001+
AVERAGE NET PRICE AFTER AID
$16,844/yr
▲ 13% since 2020-2198% receive grants or scholarships
Average grant or scholarship aid $36,105.
IN THE CLASSROOM
Academics
The college offers twenty-six undergraduate majors designed to prepare students for diverse career paths in fields such as business, science, health care, and the arts. Students benefit from small class sizes that allow for personalized support and close relationships with faculty members who guide their academic growth.
Source: IPEDS 2023
Student–faculty ratio
12:1
6-year graduation rate
46%
▲ 5 pts since 2016
First-year retention
63%
Median across 34 institutions in our national dataset: 89%.
Bachelor-level fields offered
26
Bachelor-level fields reported as offered in IPEDS
MOST POPULAR FIELDS OF STUDY
Share of bachelor's degree completions, not of all enrolled students.
Psychology, General.24.5%
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching.11.8%
Speech Communication and Rhetoric.9.8%
Social Work.5.9%
Business Administration and Management, General.5.9%
Elementary Education and Teaching.4.9%
CAMPUS LIFE
Campus & Housing
Reported capacity of institution-controlled housing and campus setting. Capacity does not indicate how many students currently live in university housing.
University-controlled housing capacity
720
Includes institution-controlled housing; it may extend beyond campus.
Setting
rural, fringe
AFTER GRADUATION
Student outcomes
Earnings and employment of former students after entering the university.
Source: College Scorecard 2025
Median earnings · 10 yrs after entry
$44,512
Median earnings of former students working and not enrolled, ten years after entry.
Working after 10 yrs
87.8%
Share of former students working and not enrolled, ten years after entry.
Earning more than a high-school graduate
71.3%
71.3% of former students earn above the Scorecard high-school earnings threshold, ten years after entry.
Data Sources: U.S. Department of Education IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics, and College Scorecard. University Apartments is not affiliated with Bethany College.