Engineering at Bethany College

A debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.4 would put this program in solid territory—if these estimates hold. Based on national medians from similar engineering bachelor's programs, graduates might expect around $68,000 in first-year earnings against roughly $26,500 in debt. That's a manageable balance for a field known for strong career prospects. However, with only three engineering programs in Kansas and no reported outcomes from any of them, there's genuine uncertainty about how Bethany's specific program performs compared to the state's larger institutions.

The 43% Pell grant rate suggests Bethany serves many students who can't afford to gamble on uncertain outcomes. Engineering programs vary dramatically in quality and employer recognition—some lead to immediate hiring at $75,000+, while others struggle with industry connections. The national benchmarks suggest reasonable potential, but peer program data can only tell you so much about a small engineering department at a 79% admission-rate liberal arts college versus, say, Kansas State's established program.

The practical question: Can your student access better-documented engineering programs elsewhere in Kansas? If Bethany offers unique advantages—smaller classes, specific mentorship, or financial aid that makes the net cost significantly lower—those might justify the uncertainty. Otherwise, programs with actual reported outcomes would let you make this decision with real evidence rather than national averages.