What Bethany Lutheran College does

Bethany Lutheran College is a private, Christ-centered liberal arts institution operating under the DBA "BLC" in Mankato, Minnesota. Founded in 1927, it serves approximately 900 students through 51 academic programs (including roughly 35 majors leading to Bachelor of Arts degrees), 600+ active courses, and 13 NAIA varsity athletic programs competing as the Vikings. The college maintains a 12:1 student-faculty ratio with an average class size of 17, and holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Reported outcomes include 89%+ of graduates admitted to their first-choice graduate school program and zero criminal offenses on campus since 2011.

The institution operates a tuition-driven revenue model spanning multiple student segments. Undergraduate full tuition for 2026-27 is $33,270, with an average net price of $19,400 after financial aid (76% of average aid packages are gift aid). A CACREP-accredited Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is delivered online asynchronously with three on-campus residencies at $600 per credit for a 60-credit total of $36,000. Dual credit courses are priced at $1,410/credit standard and $150/credit for Bethany Advantage partner schools, with a tuition credit if students subsequently enroll full-time; the college also participates in Minnesota's PSEO program. Distribution relies on direct-to-consumer admissions via regionally assigned counselors, a Lutheran church and high school network, the Common Application, dedicated international recruitment, and content channels including a "Well Mind Podcast."

Customer segments include first-time undergraduates (primary), transfer students, international students, graduate CMHC candidates, and dual credit/PSEO high school students. The technology stack is limited to the MyBLC student portal and standard administrative systems; the institution does not develop proprietary software, AI/ML products, or APIs, and revenue mechanics are entirely tuition- and aid-based with no disclosed enterprise contracts or external ownership.

Name

Bethany Lutheran College

Legal name

Bethany Lutheran College

Website

https://blc.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bethany Lutheran College is a private Christ-centered liberal arts institution in Mankato, Minnesota, serving approximately 900 students through 51 undergraduate and graduate programs, including a CACREP-accredited online Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Private Liberal Arts College)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Liberal arts education
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate counseling programs
• Christian college education

Headquarters

HQ city

Mankato

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition: Tuition-based revenue from undergraduate students. Full tuition for 2026-27 is $33,270. Average net price for first-time freshmen living on campus is $19,400 after financial aid.
2. Graduate Program Tuition: Graduate Clinical Mental Health Counseling program charges $600 per credit for 60 credit hours, totaling $36,000 for the full degree.
3. Dual Credit / High School Programs: Dual credit courses for high school students priced at $1,410 per credit, with Bethany Advantage Grant reducing cost to $150 per credit for qualifying partner school students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bethany Lutheran College is a private Christian liberal arts college providing higher education services through 35+ undergraduate majors leading to Bachelor of Arts degrees (across arts, sciences, business, education, nursing, media arts, and pre-professional tracks) and a CACREP-accredited Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate program. The college also offers dual credit and PSEO courses for high school students, 13 NAIA varsity athletic programs, study abroad opportunities, and various student support services, serving approximately 900+ students at its Mankato, Minnesota campus.

Product overview

Bethany Lutheran College offers a Christ-centered higher education experience through its undergraduate academic programs (35+ majors leading to Bachelor of Arts degrees) and one graduate program (Clinical Mental Health Counseling). The institution operates as a traditional college rather than a software product company. Key offerings include undergraduate majors and minors across diverse disciplines, a CACREP-accredited online graduate counseling program with on-campus residencies, dual credit programs for high school students, 13 varsity athletic programs, study abroad opportunities, and a student portal for academic management. The college's technology presence consists primarily of informational web content and administrative systems rather than user-facing software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Academic Programs Christ-centered undergraduate majors and minors across arts, sciences, business, education, health services (including nursing), media arts, and pre-professional tracks. The institution offers 51 programs including 35 major programs leading to Bachelor of Arts degrees, with over 600 active courses and a 12:1 student-faculty ratio supporting personalized learning.
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) Graduate Program A CACREP-accredited 60-credit Master of Arts program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, delivered through online asynchronous coursework combined with three on-campus residencies and clinical internships in students' local communities. The program integrates a Christian worldview with clinical training and prepares graduates for licensure as professional counselors.
• Dual Credit Program Online college courses offered to high school students through dual credit enrollment, with Bethany Advantage Grant pricing at $150/credit for partner school students, and tuition credit for those who later enroll full-time. Standard tuition is $1,410 per credit for non-partner school students.
• PSEO (Post-Secondary Enrollment Option) Minnesota state program allowing high school students to earn college credit at no cost through selected Bethany courses.
• Vikings Athletics 13 varsity athletic programs competing as the Vikings in the NAIA, including basketball, volleyball, soccer, golf, track and field, softball, clay target, and esports. The program supports student athlete development and campus community engagement.
• Study Abroad Study abroad opportunities and travel courses designed to broaden students' perspectives through culturally diverse destinations sponsored by various academic departments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 89% of Bethany graduates admitted to first-choice graduate school program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Land to Air EXPRESSminorOthersShuttle service from Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and MSP airport to Mankato. Bethany Admissions Office reimburses airport shuttle costs for visitors who contact them in advance.
• Local Hotel PartnersminorOthersSix local hotels serve as corporate sponsors offering special rates for Bethany guests. Part of campus visitor accommodations strategy.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Concordia University, St. Paul: Private Lutheran liberal arts university in the Twin Cities offering similar Christ-centered undergraduate and graduate programs. Most direct competitor in the same regional Lutheran higher education niche.
• Concordia College (Moorhead): Small private Lutheran liberal arts college in Minnesota offering comparable Christ-centered residential undergraduate education and graduate programs with similar faith-based mission.
• Gustavus Adolphus College: Minnesota-based private Lutheran liberal arts college of similar size (~2,200 students) competing for the same pool of Lutheran high school graduates in the Upper Midwest.
• Luther College (Decorah, Iowa): Iowa's premier Lutheran liberal arts college. Directly competes for Lutheran high school students nationwide and operates similar academic, athletic, and faith-integration programming.
• Wartburg College: Private Lutheran liberal arts college in Iowa that competes with Bethany for Lutheran high school graduates, particularly across the Midwest. Similar size, mission, and academic profile.
• St. Olaf College: Highly regarded Lutheran liberal arts college in Minnesota. While larger and more selective, it targets the same Lutheran-affiliated student demographic and competes in the same MIAC athletic conference.
• Augsburg University: Private faith-based (ELCA Lutheran) university in Minneapolis serving a similar religiously-affiliated undergraduate population, with comparable small-college educational offerings.
• Bethel University (Minnesota): Baptist-affiliated private Christian university in St. Paul, MN. Direct competitor in the Twin Cities/Upper Midwest faith-based higher education market with similar academics and athletics (MIAC).
• Martin Luther College: WELS Lutheran college in New Ulm, MN focused on training pastors, teachers, and staff ministers. Overlaps with Bethany's Lutheran higher education mission and student recruitment base in WELS high schools.
• Concordia University Wisconsin: LCMS-affiliated Concordia university that mirrors Bethany's Lutheran mission and competes for the same WELS/LCMS high school graduates, particularly for graduate online programs in counseling and education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bethanylutheran
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bethanylutheran
• Facebookfacebook.com/82393585681
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bethany-lutheran-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/bethanylutherancollege

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bethany Lutheran College