Head-to-head comparison
Lee University vs Bethel University: which has better ROI?
Option A Cleveland, TN
Lee University
- Net price / year
- $18,878
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,222
- Payback
- No payback
Option B McKenzie, TN
Bethel University
- Net price / year
- $12,595
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,482
- 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 $43,222 at Lee University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lee University | Bethel University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,878 | $12,595 |
| Total net cost | $75,512 | $50,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,222 | $47,482 |
| Median debt | $25,750 | $27,249 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$178,272 | -$67,940 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lee University or Bethel University?
Bethel University, at $12,595 a year after aid versus $18,878 — a gap of $6,283 a year, or $25,132 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 Lee University or Bethel University graduates earn more?
Bethel University graduates report a median $47,482 ten years after entry, $4,260 more than the $43,222 at Lee 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, Lee University or Bethel University?
Lee University: its completers carry a median $25,750 in federal loans versus $27,249 at Bethel University, a difference of $1,499. 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?
63% of students finish at Lee 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.