Head-to-head comparison
Bethel University vs Earlham College: which has better ROI?
Option A Mishawaka, IN
Bethel University
- Net price / year
- $18,610
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,860
- Payback
- 148.9 yrs
Option B Richmond, IN
Earlham College
- Net price / year
- $24,714
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,797
- Payback
- 40.6 yrs
Earlham College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $98,856 in 40.6 years versus 148.9 years at Bethel University, on median earnings of $50,797 vs $48,860 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bethel University | Earlham College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,610 | $24,714 |
| Total net cost | $74,440 | $98,856 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,860 | $50,797 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $23,488 |
| Payback | 148.9 yrs | 40.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$64,440 | -$50,116 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bethel University or Earlham College?
Bethel University, at $18,610 a year after aid versus $24,714 — a gap of $6,104 a year, or $24,416 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 Bethel University or Earlham College graduates earn more?
Earlham College graduates report a median $50,797 ten years after entry, $1,937 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, Bethel University or Earlham College?
Earlham College: its completers carry a median $23,488 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Bethel University, a difference of $1,512. 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?
69% of students finish at Earlham College, 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.