Est. Earnings (1yr)
$50,740
Est. from national median (31 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$26,500
Est. from national median (19 programs)

Analysis

Business degrees from Kansas institutions typically produce stronger first-year outcomes than what peer programs nationally suggest for Bethany. While this program's estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 aligns with national medians, comparable programs in Kansas report actual earnings closer to $54,000—roughly $3,000 above the national baseline used here. Fort Hays State and Southwestern College graduates start at that higher Kansas benchmark, which matters when you're comparing monthly loan payments against take-home pay.

The estimated $26,500 debt load itself isn't alarming for a business bachelor's—it sits right at the national median. But with 43% of Bethany students receiving Pell grants, many families here are stretching to afford college. The catch is that without actual graduate outcomes from Bethany's business program specifically, you're making decisions based on what happens at dozens of other schools, not what this particular program delivers. The 79% admission rate and small cohort size (which triggered the data suppression) mean you're likely getting personalized attention, but whether that translates to competitive job placement remains unclear.

Consider talking directly with Bethany's business department about where their recent graduates actually landed and at what salaries. The estimates suggest reasonable returns, but you need confirmation that this small Kansas program connects students to jobs as effectively as its larger state competitors do.

Where Bethany College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business, management, marketing, bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Kansas

Business, Management, Marketing, bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Kansas (5 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Bethany CollegeLindsborg$31,946$50,740*$26,500*
Fort Hays State UniversityHays$5,633$54,142*$52,989$26,564*0.49
Southwestern CollegeWinfield$38,480$53,543**
National Median$50,740*$26,000*0.51
* Estimated from similar programs
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Bethany College, approximately 43% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 31 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.