Head-to-head comparison
North Central University vs Bethany Lutheran College: which has better ROI?
Option A Minneapolis, MN
North Central University
- Net price / year
- $25,817
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,064
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Mankato, MN
Bethany Lutheran College
- Net price / year
- $20,148
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,110
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bethany Lutheran College comes closer — median earnings $46,110 against a $80,592 total, vs $45,064 at North Central University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Central University | Bethany Lutheran College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,817 | $20,148 |
| Total net cost | $103,268 | $80,592 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,064 | $46,110 |
| Median debt | $23,200 | $23,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$169,188 | -$125,592 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, North Central University or Bethany Lutheran College?
Bethany Lutheran College, at $20,148 a year after aid versus $25,817 — a gap of $5,669 a year, or $22,676 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 North Central University or Bethany Lutheran College graduates earn more?
Bethany Lutheran College graduates report a median $46,110 ten years after entry, $1,046 more than the $45,064 at North Central 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, North Central University or Bethany Lutheran College?
Bethany Lutheran College: its completers carry a median $23,000 in federal loans versus $23,200 at North Central University, a difference of $200. 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?
66% of students finish at North Central University, against 55% at Bethany Lutheran College. 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.