Head-to-head comparison
North Hennepin Community College vs Bethel University: which has better ROI?
Option A Brooklyn Park, MN
North Hennepin Community College
- Net price / year
- $12,186
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,142
- Payback
- 8.8 yrs
Option B Saint Paul, MN
Bethel University
- Net price / year
- $28,556
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,764
- Payback
- 7.4 yrs
Bethel University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $114,224 in 7.4 years versus 8.8 years at North Hennepin Community College, on median earnings of $63,764 vs $51,142 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Hennepin Community College | Bethel University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,186 | $28,556 |
| Total net cost | $24,372 | $114,224 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,142 | $63,764 |
| Median debt | $14,750 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 8.8 yrs | 7.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $31,268 | $193,856 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, North Hennepin Community College or Bethel University?
North Hennepin Community College, at $12,186 a year after aid versus $28,556 — a gap of $16,370 a year, or $89,852 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 Hennepin Community College or Bethel University graduates earn more?
Bethel University graduates report a median $63,764 ten years after entry, $12,622 more than the $51,142 at North Hennepin Community College. 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 Hennepin Community College or Bethel University?
North Hennepin Community College: its completers carry a median $14,750 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Bethel University, a difference of $6,750. 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 22% at North Hennepin Community 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.