Head-to-head comparison
Bethel University vs Carson-Newman University: which has better ROI?
Option A McKenzie, TN
Bethel University
- Net price / year
- $12,595
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,482
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Jefferson City, TN
Carson-Newman University
- Net price / year
- $20,251
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,382
- Payback
- 3682 yrs
Carson-Newman University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $81,004 in 3682 years versus not at all at Bethel University, on median earnings of $48,382 vs $47,482 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bethel University | Carson-Newman University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,595 | $20,251 |
| Total net cost | $50,380 | $81,004 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,482 | $48,382 |
| Median debt | $27,249 | $21,500 |
| Payback | — | 3682 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$67,940 | -$80,564 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bethel University or Carson-Newman University?
Bethel University, at $12,595 a year after aid versus $20,251 — a gap of $7,656 a year, or $30,624 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 Carson-Newman University graduates earn more?
Carson-Newman University graduates report a median $48,382 ten years after entry, $900 more than the $47,482 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 Carson-Newman University?
Carson-Newman University: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $27,249 at Bethel University, a difference of $5,749. 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?
53% of students finish at Carson-Newman University, against 35% 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.