Bethel College

Bethel College North Newtown is a private liberal arts college that is affiliated with the Mennonite Church USA. The campus is located in North Newtown, Kansas, which is 28 miles from Wichita, Kansas, and is spread across an area of 90 acres. It was established in 1887. The college offers degrees and certificates in a wide range of disciplines including business administration, history, psychology, communication arts, and athletic training. In addition, it also offers pre-professional courses including pre-medical studies and pre-engineering.

The college has been distinguished by being the only Kansas private college to be included in Forbes.com’s listing of “America’s Best Colleges” for 2009 and one of only two Kansas colleges included in Colleges of Distinction 2008-09.

Bethel College has several on-campus functioning affiliate organizations such as Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Bethel College Academy of Performing Arts, the student-run radio station – KBCU-FM, and Bethel College Women’s Association. The school notes that there over 50 clubs and organizations on campus.

Students at Bethel College actively participate in sports including football, volleyball, soccer, cross country, basketball, tennis, golf, and track. The school mascot is a Thresher (a wheat harvesting device used by the early Russian Mennonite settlers who brought winter wheat to Kansas) and the colors are maroon and gray. The college is also a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Highlights

Where the school stands out most compared to other schools (details below):

• Other Religion religious affiliation.
• Many students concentrating in science, music, fine arts, and nutrition and exercise therapy.
• Unusually high availability of athletic financial aid.
• Number of dorm rooms for students.
• Superior share of faculty on tenure track.
• Large number of programs of study offered.
• High SAT scores (combined Verbal and Math).
• Good faculty-to-student ratio.
• High male/female ratio.

Other important characteristics:

• Faculty tenure system
• Library on-campus
• Campus housing available
• Student meal (board) plan
• Study abroad option
• Part-time classes available
• Athlete financial aid

Degrees Awarded (in 2008-2009)

Students

Student enrollment was 541 in 2007-2008 (522 full-time equivalent).

About 56% of the freshmen class in 2008-2009 was male and women were 44% of the class.

Undergrads are 100% of enrolled students.

About 6% of freshmen are from countries other than the US. Students living in the US make up 94% of incoming freshmen.

Tuition and Other Costs (2008-2009)

Financial Aid: Bethel participates in US Title IV financial assistance programs.

Please refer to BrainTrack's financial aid articles section for background information.

Faculty

Tenure (2008-2009):

Housing and Meals

Bethel provides on-campus housing for 450 of its 522 (full-time) students (as of 2008-2009). The school requires freshmen to live on campus.

Students may purchase a meal plan which includes 20 meals weekly.

Athletics

School sports include football, basketball, baseball, and track. The school is in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference for major sports.

The school offers financial aid for athletes. Of students receiving athletic financial aid, 164 male students received the aid (men were 75% of those receiving aid) and 55 women were awarded financial aid based on athletics (representing 25% of students receiving such aid) .

Admissions (2008-2009)

SAT Test Scores: