Head-to-head comparison
Anderson University vs Bethel University: which has better ROI?
Option A Anderson, IN
Anderson University
- Net price / year
- $25,021
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,899
- Payback
- 185.7 yrs
Option B Mishawaka, IN
Bethel University
- Net price / year
- $18,610
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,860
- Payback
- 148.9 yrs
Bethel University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $74,440 in 148.9 years versus 185.7 years at Anderson University, on median earnings of $48,860 vs $48,899 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Anderson University | Bethel University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,021 | $18,610 |
| Total net cost | $100,084 | $74,440 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,899 | $48,860 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 185.7 yrs | 148.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$89,304 | -$64,440 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Anderson University or Bethel University?
Bethel University, at $18,610 a year after aid versus $25,021 — a gap of $6,411 a year, or $25,644 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Anderson University or Bethel University graduates earn more?
Anderson University graduates report a median $48,899 ten years after entry, $39 more than the $48,860 at Bethel University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Anderson University or Bethel University?
Bethel University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Anderson University, a difference of $2,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
54% of students finish at Anderson University, against 53% at Bethel University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.