Head-to-head comparison
Saint Cloud State University vs Bethel University: which has better ROI?
Option A Saint Cloud, MN
Saint Cloud State University
- Net price / year
- $13,529
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,813
- Payback
- 7.3 yrs
Option B Saint Paul, MN
Bethel University
- Net price / year
- $28,556
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,764
- Payback
- 7.4 yrs
Saint Cloud State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $54,116 in 7.3 years versus 7.4 years at Bethel University, on median earnings of $55,813 vs $63,764 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Cloud State University | Bethel University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,529 | $28,556 |
| Total net cost | $54,116 | $114,224 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,813 | $63,764 |
| Median debt | $21,058 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 7.3 yrs | 7.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $94,944 | $193,856 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Saint Cloud State University or Bethel University?
Saint Cloud State University, at $13,529 a year after aid versus $28,556 — a gap of $15,027 a year, or $60,108 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 Saint Cloud State University or Bethel University graduates earn more?
Bethel University graduates report a median $63,764 ten years after entry, $7,951 more than the $55,813 at Saint Cloud State 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, Saint Cloud State University or Bethel University?
Saint Cloud State University: its completers carry a median $21,058 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Bethel University, a difference of $442. 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 40% at Saint Cloud State 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.