Bethel University

What Bethel University does

Bethel University is a private Christian university headquartered on a 247-acre lakeside campus in Arden Hills, Minnesota — in the Twin Cities metropolitan area — founded in 1947 (some sources cite 1871) and continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1959. It delivers undergraduate, adult undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs across more than 100 areas of study spanning business, healthcare, education, engineering, theology, and the arts, and operates sub-units including Bethel Seminary, the College of Adult and Professional Studies (CAPS), the Anderson Family College of Health Sciences, and the inclusive BUILD Program for students with intellectual disabilities.

Its core offering is multi-modality higher education: traditional on-campus undergraduate instruction in Arden Hills, fully online adult-undergraduate and graduate pathways (e.g., the online B.A. in Special Education at $464 per credit), and blended graduate programs (M.A. in Teaching, Teaching License, Ed.D.). The underlying technology is standard online-learning infrastructure for delivery to adult and graduate cohorts; no proprietary platform or public API is offered. Supportive offerings include the Bethel Career Commitment (post-graduation placement assistance within six months) and the Bethel Promise Grant (need-based pricing down to $2,500/year for qualifying Minnesota students).

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees (undergraduate tuition published at $26,700; graduate/adult tiers at per-credit or fixed program prices between $18,592 and $21,497), supplemented by donations and auxiliary services. The institution distributes roughly $30 million in financial aid annually, indicates that 99% of incoming students receive aid, and competes on transparent pricing rather than sticker discounting. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via rolling admissions, a free online application, the Common App, campus visits, virtual tours, and referrals — serving recent high-school graduates, adult learners, graduate students, and seminary students primarily across the U.S. Midwest and broader domestic market, with exploratory international outreach through Fulbright-derived partnerships.

Name

Bethel University

Legal name

Bethel University

Website

https://bethel.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bethel University is a private Christian university in Arden Hills, Minnesota, offering undergraduate, adult undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs across 100+ areas of study, with online and on-campus delivery. It primarily serves recent high-school grads, adult learners, and graduate students in the U.S. Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF), Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate programs
• Seminary education
• Adult degree programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

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. Tuition and fees: Primary revenue from tuition charged per program with clear transparent pricing. Undergraduate tuition is $26,700. Graduate and adult undergraduate programs have per-credit pricing ($464 per credit for special education). Teaching license programs range $18,592-$21,497.
2. Financial aid distribution: Last year, Bethel gave out $30 million in financial aid to students, including scholarships, need-based aid, grants, and student employment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bethel University is a private Christian university offering undergraduate, graduate, adult undergraduate, and seminary degree programs across more than 100 areas of study. The university delivers education through on-campus instruction in Arden Hills, Minnesota, fully online adult undergraduate programs, and blended graduate programs. Core offerings include degree programs in business, healthcare, education, theology, engineering, and the arts, with a Christ-centered curriculum.

Product overview

Bethel University is a Christian university in Minnesota offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs. The institution operates as a multi-modality academic platform with programs spanning undergraduate, graduate, adult undergraduate, and seminary divisions. Key products include the Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (newly launched in 2025), the BUILD Program for students with intellectual disabilities, the Teaching License and M.A. in Teaching programs, the B.A. in Special Education for adult learners, and over 100 undergraduate majors and minors. Graduate offerings include doctoral programs (Ed.D.), master's degrees in education, counseling, social work, medical sciences, and seminary programs. Student support services include the Bethel Career Commitment providing post-graduation employment support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BUILD Program: A supportive and comprehensive educational experience for individuals with intellectual disabilities
• Bethel Career Commitment
• Bethel Promise Grant

Products and services

• Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (BS-SLP) A four-year undergraduate degree program preparing students for careers in speech-language pathology, with clinical training placements in the Twin Cities area. The program covers language development, swallowing disorders, neurology, and bilingual service delivery, preparing graduates for graduate study or workforce entry as paraprofessionals, teacher aides, or line therapists.
• BUILD Program A supportive and comprehensive educational experience for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The program was studied by a Lithuanian education delegation as a model for inclusive education practices.
• Teaching License Program A blended delivery program lasting 18 months that prepares individuals for initial Minnesota teaching licenses across various content areas including Business Education, Communication Arts, Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Visual Arts. Estimated tuition ranges from $18,592 to $19,173. Approved through the Minnesota Professional Education Licensing Standards Board (PELSB).
• Master of Arts in Teaching A 17-23 month graduate program (plus thesis) for career changers pursuing teaching positions, with tuition of $20,916 to $21,497. The program leads to initial Minnesota teaching licensure with options for dual licensure in multiple content areas, combining online and face-to-face instruction. Approved through PELSB.
• Bachelor of Arts in Special Education (Adult Undergraduate) An online degree program (30 months) for adult learners preparing for careers in special education at $464 per credit. The program includes stackable licenses in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Cognitive Disabilities, and Emotional and Behavioral Disorders.
• Undergraduate Majors and Minors More than 100 areas of study across undergraduate programs including business, healthcare, education, theology, engineering, and the arts. Programs include majors in Actuarial Science, Applied Physics, Art, Biochemistry, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Communication, Computer Science, Education, Engineering, English, History, Mathematics, Music, Nursing, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, Spanish, and Speech-Language Pathology.
• Graduate Programs Advanced degree programs including Education (Ed.D., M.A.), Counseling (M.A.), Social Work (MSW), Medical Sciences (M.S.), Nurse-Midwifery (M.S.), and Physician Assistant (M.S.).
• Seminary Programs Graduate programs developing leaders for service in theological, pastoral, and ministry settings, including Master of Divinity, Marriage and Family Therapy, and various ministry programs. Partnerships include Cru, Gateway Leaders Initiative, MN Adult & Teen Challenge, Young Life, and Church Residency.
• Bethel Career Commitment A career support program providing graduates with job placement assistance within six months of graduation, with additional support for eligible graduates who still need help including free graduate credits or transitional employment at Bethel.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of incoming students receive financial aid
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cru PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership through Bethel Seminary for ministry and church leadership development
• Gateway Leaders InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for leadership development in ministry settings
• MN Adult & Teen ChallengeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing pathways for addiction recovery and ministry education
• Young Life PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for youth ministry leadership development
• Church Residency PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing practical church ministry experience alongside academic training
• Vytautas Magnus UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly discussions about potentially developing a similar inclusive education model in Lithuania (BUILD program), following Associate Dean Katie Bonawitz's Fulbright project in Lithuania in 2024
• TeachMNminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing free support to prospective teachers including 1-on-1 coaching, enrollment expense reimbursements up to $100, and $1,000 scholarship opportunities
• Area school districtscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBethel partners with 20+ area schools for student field experiences, hiring, and professional development. Partner schools include Anoka-Hennepin Schools, St. Paul Public Schools, Roseville Area Schools, Rochester Public Schools, Centennial School District 12, and others

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Calvin University: Christian Reformed university with comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs. Comparable faith-integration model and academic portfolio breadth across health sciences, education, and business.
• Biola University: Private Christian university in California offering undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs. Comparable faith-centered identity, seminary presence, and adult/online program portfolio.
• Wheaton College: Established evangelical Christian college with strong ROI reputation and broad graduate/professional offerings. Comparable faith-centered identity and outcome-oriented positioning, though at a larger national scale.
• Azusa Pacific University: Private Christian university with broad undergraduate and graduate offerings, including online programs and an education focus similar to Bethel's teacher pipeline.

Regional players

• Augsburg University: Twin Cities private university with strong health sciences, education, and adult undergraduate programs. Overlaps with Bethel on regional employer pipelines and modality mix.
• Hamline University: Twin Cities private university competing for similar Minnesota students with comparable tuition positioning and program breadth, though secular rather than faith-affiliated.

Direct peers

• Concordia University, St. Paul: Private Christian university in the Twin Cities offering undergraduate, graduate, and adult programs with similar tuition positioning and faith integration. Most direct regional comparable given shared geography, mission, and program mix.
• Saint Mary's University of Minnesota: Private Catholic/Lasallian university in Minnesota with undergraduate, graduate, and adult programs, including a strong online adult learner presence. Comparable size, modality mix, and regional employer partnerships.
• Crown College: Private Christian college in Minnesota offering associate, bachelor's, and graduate programs with similar faith-based positioning. Comparable in size and target student profile.
• University of Northwestern - St. Paul: Christian university in the Twin Cities with comparable undergraduate, graduate, and seminary offerings. Competes head-to-head with Bethel for faith-minded students in the same metro labor and clinical placement market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BethelU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/betheluniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/10907772315
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bethel-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/bethelumn

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Bethel University