At A Glance
You will learn to be a critical thinker and engaged global citizen.
Bethel College prepares students for meaningful lives of work and service through faith formation, the liberal arts, and practical experience in career pathways.
Mission
Basics
The Basics
Founded:1887
Type:4-year liberal arts
Church affiliation:Mennonite Church USA (independent corporation and board)
Location:North Newton, Kansas (adjacent to Newton, Kansas, pop. 19,000)
Campus:90 acres
Miles to Wichita:28
Miles to major cities:
- Kansas City: 180
- Oklahoma City: 184
- Omaha: 303
- Dallas: 389
- Denver: 490
Newest campus additions:
- Thresher Stadium Locker Room and Viewing Suite (2023)
- Renovated Luyken Fine Arts Center (2014)
- $5 million renovated Will Family Academic Center (2012)
- Renovated Schultz Student Center and cafeteria (2012)
- $5.5 million sports complex (2005)
- $5 million Krehbiel Science Center and Mabee Observatory (2002)
Through our rigorous and enriched curriculum, Bethel receives many national honors
Graduation rate:
Postsecondary Education Opportunity ranks Bethel in the top 12 nationally of liberal arts colleges whose actual graduation rates surpass predictions.
Forensics:
One of six colleges or universities that have sent students to the American Forensics Association’s National Individual Events Tournament every year since its beginning in 1978.
Character:
A Templeton Character Building College and one of only eight colleges to be listed in Mother Jones as a college that combines great values with good value
Service:
One of only four Private Kansas colleges to be recognized as part of the most recent President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll
Biomedical science:
In 1996, 2003, 2007 and 2011, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) recognized Bethel College for the high number of its science majors who go on to earn M.D. degrees and/or Ph.D. degrees in the sciences.
Honors
After
Life after Bethel College
Teacher education program completers who passed the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) professional knowledge component, 2018–23: 92%
Bethel nursing graduate NCLEX pass rates: historically above the state average/100% pass rate 2022 and 2023
Biology and natural science graduates who successfully pursued Ph.D. and/or M.D. degrees (since 1987): Approximately 50%
Graduate school: 1 out of every 17 graduates earns a doctoral degree, ranking Bethel first in the state and 92nd in the nation in percentage of bachelor degree students who go on to earn a Ph.D.
Return on investment: #1 small Kansas college for highest earning graduates – Zippia.com
academics
Academic Excellence
Degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Study and travel abroad: Study abroad programs at 19 colleges and universities in 17 countries
Calendar:
- two 16-week terms (fall and spring)
- May term
Average class size: 21
Graduation requirements include: an undergraduate research project, a public performance and/or an internship
Faculty Profile
Full-time faculty: 38
Part-time faculty: 47
Student-faculty ratio: 10:1
Student Body Profile
Enrollment: 503
States represented: 24
Other countries represented: 6
Residential: 80% of traditional-age students live on campus in one of three residence halls
Nearly 20% of all students enrolled are first-generation college students
Freshman class (2023–24):
- average ACT score 19.88
- 16% in top 10% of high school class
- 38% in top 25% of high school class
Students
Engagement
Engagement
18 varsity sports under the auspices of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics-Division II:
- football
- men’s and women’s basketball
- women’s volleyball
- men’s and women’s track and field indoor/outdoor
- men’s and women’s golf
- men’s and women’s soccer
- men’s and women’s tennis
- cheerleading
- dance
- women’s softball
- women’s flag football
- men’s and women’s cross country
Facilities
- Thresher Stadium, Joe W. Goering Field and Herbert Schmidt Track
- Thresher Stadium Locker Room and Viewing Suite
- Thresher Gymnasium
- Wedel Softball Stadium
- Memorial Hall Gymnasium
- Ward Tennis Center
- practice fields
- biking/walking/running paths
- cardio equipment and weight rooms
Mascot
Thresher (What is a Thresher?)
Colors
Maroon and Gray
Intramural sports
More than a dozen options
Clubs and organizations
Nearly 30 options
Forensics
Award-winning forensics team
Theater
4 or more opportunities each school year to perform on stage or behind the scenes in plays and musicals
Music
Bethel music groups have been selected to perform at the annual conference of the Kansas Music Educators Association.
- choral ensembles
- jazz ensembles
- chamber groups
- orchestra
- athletic band
- steel drum band
- private lessons
- community music groups
- coffeehouse performance opportunities
Belief
Spiritual Life
Mennonites believe that a life of discipleship should exhibit, among other traits: service to others; concern for those less fortunate; involvement in issues of social justice; and emphasis on peaceful, nonviolent resolution of community, national and international conflicts.
Other backgrounds:
Though Bethel is a college based on Mennonite beliefs, more than half of our students come from backgrounds other than Mennonite.
Available activities:
Bible study groups, praise and worship services, hymn sings, weekly chapel services and regular service opportunities
