Head-to-head comparison
Bethel University vs Freed-Hardeman 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 Henderson, TN
Freed-Hardeman University
- Net price / year
- $21,574
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,485
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bethel University comes closer — median earnings $47,482 against a $50,380 total, vs $47,485 at Freed-Hardeman University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bethel University | Freed-Hardeman University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,595 | $21,574 |
| Total net cost | $50,380 | $86,296 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,482 | $47,485 |
| Median debt | $27,249 | $21,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$67,940 | -$103,796 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bethel University or Freed-Hardeman University?
Bethel University, at $12,595 a year after aid versus $21,574 — a gap of $8,979 a year, or $35,916 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 Freed-Hardeman University graduates earn more?
Freed-Hardeman University graduates report a median $47,485 ten years after entry, $3 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 Freed-Hardeman University?
Freed-Hardeman 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?
71% of students finish at Freed-Hardeman 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.