Head-to-head comparison
Bethel University vs Hamline University: which has better ROI?
Option A Saint Paul, MN
Bethel University
- Net price / year
- $28,556
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,764
- Payback
- 7.4 yrs
Option B Saint Paul, MN
Hamline University
- Net price / year
- $20,744
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,106
- Payback
- 6.5 yrs
Hamline University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,976 in 6.5 years versus 7.4 years at Bethel University, on median earnings of $61,106 vs $63,764 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bethel University | Hamline University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,556 | $20,744 |
| Total net cost | $114,224 | $82,976 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,764 | $61,106 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $23,770 |
| Payback | 7.4 yrs | 6.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $193,856 | $171,944 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bethel University or Hamline University?
Hamline University, at $20,744 a year after aid versus $28,556 — a gap of $7,812 a year, or $31,248 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 Hamline University graduates earn more?
Bethel University graduates report a median $63,764 ten years after entry, $2,658 more than the $61,106 at Hamline 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 Hamline University?
Bethel University: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $23,770 at Hamline University, a difference of $2,270. 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 Bethel University, against 60% at Hamline 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.