College · Catholic life on campus
Bethel University
- LocationSaint Paul, MN
- Type and sizePrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 3,521 students
Affiliation: Baptist
Bethel University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.
Bethel University's Campus Ministries offers weekly Chapel services, Vespers, spiritual formation, prayer teams, and mission trips within a Christian framework.
Catholic churches nearby
- St. Odilia — 1.5 mi · 3495 Victoria Street, Shoreview
Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.
Catholic life scorecard
Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.
Catholic life on campus
Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
- Partly: Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 3 milesComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adorationNot enough information: no verified Mass times are recorded.
Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.
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Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.71%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.86%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,249 · ACT 25
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.14 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$9,737
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
Campus facts
| Sports | NCAA Division III · Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
|---|---|
| Setting | Suburb |
| ROTC | Army · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 14 to 1 |
Federal data (IPEDS). None of this changes the faith grades.
Cost and value
Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 2,629 |
|---|---|
| Total students | 3,521 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $28,556 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $58,569 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $21,500 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 71% |
| First-year retention | 86% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $63,764 |
| Admission rate | 88% |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 19% |
| Average SAT | 1249 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 610–650 |
| SAT math | 580–650 |
| ACT composite | 22–28 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value index: 59 / 100 (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Local Church
Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
The Most Reverend Bernard A. Hebda, Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Formal address: “Your Excellency”
Cathedral: Cathedral of Saint Paul
Source: archspm.org, archspm.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.
Diocese determined from the county using NCES Catholic school records. Confirm with the diocese.
About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 173160
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral/professional university
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Baptist
- Report an error or a newer source
- Respond as this school
Questions families ask
- Is Bethel University a Catholic college?
- No. Bethel University is not a Catholic college. Its listed religious affiliation is Baptist. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead.
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