Mission: Bethel College is an independent institution of higher education. The mission of the college is to prepare students, through active learning and rigorous instruction imbued with the spirit of liberal arts, to become critical thinkers and engaged global citizens.
The Basics
- Founded:
- 1887
- Type:
- 4-year liberal arts
- Church affiliation:
- Mennonite Church USA (independent corporation and board)
- Location:
- North Newton, Kansas (adjacent to Newton, Kansas, pop. 19,000)
- Campus:
- 90 acres
- Miles to Wichita:
- 28
- Miles to major cities:
-
- Kansas City: 180
- Oklahoma City: 184
- Omaha: 303
- Dallas: 389
- Denver: 490
- Newest campus additions:
-
- Renovated Luyken Fine Arts Center (2014)
- $5 million renovated Will Family Academic Center (2012)
- Renovated Schultz Student Center and cafeteria (2012)
- $5.5 million sports complex (2005)
- $5 million Krehbiel Science Center and Mabee Observatory (2002)
Honors
- Overall ranking:
-
- The only Kansas college among Best National Liberal Arts Colleges in Washington Monthly’s annual college guide 2018–19
- The only Kansas college in the U.S. News & World Report’s National Liberal Arts Colleges category, 2018–19
- Graduation rate:
- Postsecondary Education Opportunity ranks Bethel in the top 12 nationally of liberal arts colleges whose actual graduation rates surpass predictions.
- Forensics:
- One of six colleges or universities that have sent students to the American Forensics Association’s National Individual Events Tournament every year since its beginning in 1978.
- Character:
- A Templeton Character Building College and one of only eight colleges to be listed in Mother Jones as a college that combines
great values with good value
- Service:
- One of only four Private Kansas colleges to be recognized as part of the most recent President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll
- Biomedical science:
- In 1996, 2003, 2007 and 2011, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) recognized Bethel College for the high number of its science majors who go on to earn M.D. degrees and/or Ph.D. degrees in the sciences.
After Bethel
- Teacher education program completers who passed the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) professional knowledge component, 2013–18:
- 98%
- Bethel nursing graduate NCLEX pass rates:
- historically above the state average
- Biology and natural science graduates who successfully pursued Ph.D. and/or M.D. degrees (since 1987):
- approximately 50%
- Graduate school:
-
- 1 out of every 17 graduates earns a doctoral degree, ranking Bethel first in the state and 92nd in the nation in percentage of bachelor degree students who go on to earn a Ph.D.
- Return on investment:
-
- #1 small Kansas college for highest earning graduates - Zippia.com
Academic Excellence
- Degrees:
-
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Study and travel abroad:
-
Study abroad programs at 19 colleges and universities in 17 countries
- Calendar:
-
- two 16-week terms (fall and spring)
- 4-week January interterm
- summer term
- Average class size:
- 21
- Graduation requirements include:
- an undergraduate research project, a public performance and/or an internship
Faculty Profile
- Full-time:
- 38
- Part-time:
- 47
- Student-faculty ratio:
- 10:1
Student Body Profile
- Enrollment:
- 444
- States represented:
- 24
- Other countries represented:
- 6
- Residential:
- 80% of traditional-age students live on campus in one of three residence halls
- Freshman class (2018–19):
-
- average ACT score 21.19
- 15% in top 10% of high school class
- 31% in top 25% of high school class
Engagement
- 15 varsity sports under the auspices of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics-Division II, including:
-
- football
- men’s and women’s basketball
- women’s volleyball
- men’s and women’s track and field
- men’s golf
- men’s and women’s soccer
- men’s and women’s tennis
- cheerleading
- women’s softball
- men’s and women’s cross country
- Facilities:
-
- Thresher Stadium, Joe W. Goering Field and Herbert Schmidt Track
- Thresher Gymnasium
- Memorial Hall gym
- Ward Tennis Center
- practice fields
- biking/walking/running paths
- cardio equipment and weight rooms
- Mascot:
- Thresher (What is a Thresher?)
- Colors:
- Maroon and gray
- Intramural sports:
- More than a dozen options
- Clubs and organizations:
- Nearly 30 options
- Forensics:
- Award-winning forensics team
- Theater:
- 4 or more opportunities each school year to perform on stage or behind the scenes in plays and musicals
- Music:
-
Almost every year since 2010, one or more Bethel music groups have been selected to perform at the annual conference of the Kansas Music Educators Association. In 2014, the Concert Choir performed at the Southwestern Conference of the American Choral Directors Association. Read more about opportunities for involvement.
- choral ensembles
- jazz ensembles
- chamber groups
- orchestra
- athletic band
- steel drum band
- private lessons
- community music groups
- coffeehouse performance opportunities
Spiritual Life
- Other backgrounds:
- Though Mennonites represent the largest single Christian denomination at Bethel, more than half of our students come from backgrounds other than Mennonite.
- Available activities:
- Bible study groups, praise and worship services, hymn sings, weekly chapel services and regular service opportunities