Bethel University in Tennessee

Staff Writers

Founded in 1842, Bethel University is a private Christian university in McKenzie, Tennessee. Satellite campuses are located in Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, Paris, Clarksville, and Jackson. The college is accredited to bestow degrees up to the master’s level. No matter your higher education goals, Bethel University is here to help you achieve them.

Let’s take a closer look at what the institution has to offer.

Admissions

Bethel University boasts an acceptance rate of 67%, with half the applicants admitted having SAT scores between 820 and 1072 or ACT scores between 16 and 25. The application fee at Bethel University is a one-time $30, and you must apply by August 16 to be considered.

Tuition

The average tuition at Bethel University in the 2019-2020 academic year comes out to $17,010, which is significantly cheaper than the national average tuition cost of $40,550. The $17,010 includes both tuition and fees that cover the use of library services, technology resources, campus health centers, gyms, and student centers, to name a few. In addition to tuition and fees though, students and families must account for other college expenses not factored in like room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and other personal expenses. Financial aid is available to help make higher education at Bethel University more affordable for all.

Location

Bethel University is situated in a rural setting in McKenzie, Tennessee. Plenty of people enjoy going to smaller schools outside of the city because they get a greater sense of community and feel safer. Another benefit of attending a rural school is that there are much less distractions, so you are more likely to put in more effort to get engaged in school activities, connect with others on campus, and study well.

Housing

Bethel University believes that on-campus living is an integral part of the college experience. It comes with a whole host of benefits socially, financially, and economically. It’s convenient for students to get around, and makes it easier for them to stay on track and graduate on time. Finally, living on-campus fosters closer relationships with peers and instructors, as well as your advisors. There’s truly nothing better than being a part of a tight-knit community where everyone supports one another.

The institution has several residence halls for students to choose from: McDonald Hall, Prosser Hall, West Hall, Wildcat Cove, Heritage Hall, and University Hall. Regardless of which residence hall you choose to live in, there will be plenty of activities for you to partake in, like movie nights and video game tournaments. Participating allows undergraduates to destress from school, have some fun, and meet new people!

Unless you live within a 50-mile radius and have completed a total of 96 credit hours, Bethel University students are required to live on-campus. Those wishing to live off-campus have to meet all the requirements and be approved by the Housing Office.

Academic Programs

Bethel University has three colleges, each specializing in different areas of studies: the College of Health Sciences, the College of Arts & Sciences, and the College of Professional Studies. Students can pursue an Associate’s, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Science degrees through their rigorous academic programs.

Some of the most popular majors at Bethel University include:

  • Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting, and Related Protective Services
  • Criminal Justice & Safety Studies
  • Health Professions and Related Programs
  • Parks, Recreations, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
  • Visual and Performing Arts
  • Nursing

Scholarships

There are numerous scholarship opportunities for Bethel University undergraduates to take advantage of. Getting a good financial aid package can make a substantial difference in affording tuition, room and board, and other fees. That being said, let’s take a quick look at some of the incredible scholarships the college offers!

Incoming Bethel University students can take advantage of four unique academic scholarships: Bethel Honor Scholarship, Deans Honor Scholarship, Trustee Honor Scholarship, Presidential Honor Scholarship.

All of these scholarships have some basic shared requirements, then individual requirements. The basic shared requirements are as follows:

  • New freshmen must have a bare minimum of 18 ACT score or 960 SAT score, and at least a 2.5 high school GPA
  • New transfer students who have never attended Bethel University must have been studying full-time at their previous colleges
  • Bethel students who didn’t receive the scholarship upon entering are not eligible

Bethel Honor Scholarship

  • Incoming freshmen have to have at least a 20-22 ACT score or 1030-1120 SAT score, or have a 3.0 to 3.4 high school cumulative GPA
  • New transfer students need at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA from their previous colleges
  • To renew and be considered for the scholarship again, students have to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher
  • Amounts vary from $1,000 for dorm students, and $600 for commuters living off-campus

Deans Honor Scholarship

  • Incoming freshmen have to have at least a 23-24 ACT score or 1130-1190 SAT score, or have a 3.25 to 3.49 high school cumulative GPA
  • New transfer students must have at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA from their previous colleges
  • To renew and be considered for the scholarship again, students have to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Amounts vary but can be up to $2,000 for dorm students and $1,200 for commuters

Trustee Honor Scholarship

  • Incoming freshmen have to have at least a 25-26 ACT score or 1200-1250 SAT score, or have a 3.5 to 3.74 high school cumulative GPA
  • New transfer students must have at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA from their previous colleges
  • To renew and be considered for the scholarship again, students have to maintain a 3.3 cumulative GPA or higher
  • Amounts vary but can be up to $4,000 for dorm students and $2,400 for off-campus students

Presidential Honor Scholarship

  • Incoming freshmen have to have at least a 27 ACT score or 1260 SAT score, or have a high school cumulative GPA of at least 3.75
  • New transfer students need a 3.4 cumulative GPA from their previous colleges to be considered
  • To be considered for renewal, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher
  • Amounts vary but can be up to $6,000 for dorm students and $3,600 for off-campus students

In addition to academic scholarships, Bethel University also has other scholarships like the academic theatre scholarship, athletic scholarships, Bethel Promise Scholarship, Bethel Service Scholarship, Community Engagement Scholarship, contiguous county grant, and more. With so many options available, you’re bound to find one or a couple to help fund your college education.

Student Body

Most of Bethel University’s students are residents of Tennessee, but the school also accepts students from other states and countries. The college has an undergraduate enrollment of 4,560, with a pretty even distribution of 44% male students and 56% female students.

Athletics

Participating in sports is a fun way to relieve stress, get to know new people, explore your competitive side, and get your exercise in! Bethel University offers a wide variety of sports for men and women to choose from:

Men’s Sports

  • Baseball
  • Bass fishing
  • Basketball
  • Bowling
  • Cross country
  • Football
  • Golf
  • In-line hockey
  • Soccer
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Triathlon
  • Track & field (indoor and outdoor)

Women’s Sports

  • Basketball
  • Bowling
  • Golf
  • Cross country
  • Softball
  • Soccer
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track & field (indoor and outdoor)
  • Volleyball
  • Triathlon

Co-ed Sports

  • Archery
  • Dance
  • Cheerleading
  • Shooting

As you can see, there’s something for everyone! In addition to competitive sports, Bethel also offers intramural sports where students can play volleyball with each other at the beach, enjoy dodgeball, play flag football, and participate in other sporting events.