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International Student Admissions
Bethany Lutheran College is a private, Christian, university-level American institution. Its 20 hectare campus is located just outside downtown in the safe city of Mankato, Minnesota, overlooking the Minnesota River Valley.
With a faculty to student ratio of 12:1 and an average class size of 17, students enjoy close, personal attention from faculty, hands-on learning, and a genuinely friendly environment, enabling students to reach their full potential for employment or graduate school.
Popular major programs include business, media arts, engineering, computer science, biology, and chemistry.
Bethany offers a high-quality, affordable education, with academic scholarships and campus work-study jobs available. International students matriculate in a unique program during their first year, which includes a three-week summer orientation course before the start of the semester, English as a Second Language (ESL) courses as needed, and mentorship.
Students at Bethany enjoy living in the comfortable on-campus dormitories and eating in the cafeteria. Mankato’s public transportation system is low-cost, and you can take the bus to the many stores and restaurants on Madison Ave.
Bethany University students have an excellent track record in getting accepted into top graduate schools in the United States. Over 89% of Bethany graduates have been admitted to their first-choice graduate school program.
Why Bethany?
Bethany could be a perfect fit for you to earn your Bachelor’s degree from an American accredited university-level institution. Are any of these qualities in a college important to you?
Bethany supports international students.
We have developed a comprehensive international student program to help ensure our students’ success on their way to earning a four-year bachelor’s degree in the field of their choice.
Before and after you arrive at Bethany, our international student services center can help you in a variety of ways, including:
- Helping you obtain your I-20
- Assistance with personal and cultural adjustment issues
- Facilitating any travel abroad and reentry to the United States
- Facilitating employment authorization
- Facilitating extension of legal stay in the country
Bethany provides an English support plan.
Enrolling in a university level institution after full-time language school or a couple years of American high school can be a big transition. Our three-week, three-credit August course is designed to bridge that gap. International students have a chance to get settled and dig into their studies in a course titled ENSL150 Orientation to American Higher Education. By the time the fall semester begins, students are familiar with their new surroundings, university culture and expectations, and can begin the semester with confidence.
The three-week program also provides valuable input to help students enroll in their fall courses at the appropriate level. Bethany offers an additional six credits of English support during each semester to meet students’ needs. Students in this program also enroll in courses with American students and stay on schedule to graduate in four years. See our English proficiency requirement section for details on how we support students at a variety of proficiency levels. Our goal is to set you up for success.
Bethany is safe.
Bethany is a safe, Christian environment. According to the annual official U.S. government security statistics, Bethany has had ZERO criminal offenses, hate crimes, or arrests on record since 2011 when the reporting begins. We encourage you to compare these numbers with other institutions you are considering. You will feel physically safe here at Bethany. Learn more about safety and security on campus.
Bethany treats every student as an individual.
Bethany is a small college and we see that as our strength. With just 900+ students and a student:faculty ratio of 12:1, you’ll be greeted by caring faculty and staff who know your name. Friendly Information Technology Services staff are ready to help you with your technology. Opportunities abound for participating in extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and more. For our size, we are very well-resourced. We care about our students at Bethany!
Bethany has a World Club for international students.
Bethany’s World Club supports international students and sponsors a number of cross-cultural learning opportunities. We would love for you to come and be a part! World Club helps all students at Bethany to learn more about each other, including our cultures, backgrounds, and traditions.
Alumni Stories
Hear Why Past Graduates Love Bethany
John Brown graduated from Bethany in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science. Inspired by his own experience as a physical therapy patient, he felt called to help […]
As a former teacher, I saw a great need for children and adolescents to receive counseling. Many are burdened by trauma, anxiety, and other issues which impede their learning. One […]
Heather Krueger, Class of 2014, earned her major in Biology at Bethany Lutheran College. She later completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy at Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences in […]
Michael Knepprath, a 2010 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College, earned his degree in Studio Art with an emphasis in Media Arts. What began as a passion for visual design gradually […]
Bethany alumnus Alfonso (Fonzie) Mayfield is driven by a desire to affect change for people in his community. Mayfield grew up in the urban Milwaukee. It’s well documented that inner […]
Nicholas Chopp graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Bethany Lutheran College. During his time at Bethany, he helped build and develop the College’s Audio/Video Studio, […]
David Hicke, Class of 2010, earned his degree in Engineering Sciences at Bethany Lutheran College. He now serves as an Off‑Road Vehicle Systems Engineer, where he designs cooling systems for […]
Megan Maschoff graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Bethany, concentrating on sports broadcasting and photography. Her time on campus was filled with hands-on experience—from covering […]
Cody Hardin, Class of 2011, earned a double major in Communication and Music from Bethany Lutheran College, with emphases in TV & Film Audio and Theory & Composition. He now […]
Brittany Fenrich, a 2015 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College, currently shapes minds as an Adjunct Professor of English at Palo Alto College, a position she began in January 2023. Before […]
Patricia Lilienthal, Class of 2018 with a major in History, is making history come alive through her work as a Collections Coordinator, Exhibit Designer, and Administrative Assistant. She reflects on […]
Cynthia Krause completed her Bachelor of Arts in Music at Bethany College in 2019, where she focused on harp and organ performance. After graduation, she spent two gap years working […]
Jessica Berlinger graduated from Bethany Lutheran College in 2019 with a major in English and a secondary education licensure, including coaching credentials in secondary education. She went on to teach […]
Jordan Poff earned his Bachelor of Arts in Engineering Sciences from Bethany Lutheran College in 2019, where he also minored in Mathematics. While at Bethany, he embraced hands-on learning in […]
Kalie VanMeveren, Class of 2012, graduated from Bethany Lutheran College with a degree in Psychology, then completed her graduate training in school psychology. She now serves as a school psychologist […]
Gina Kammer, a 2010 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College, majored in English and later earned a Master of Arts in English Literature. Today, she works as a freelance author and […]
Bailey Bautch, Class of 2018, graduated from Bethany Lutheran College with a major in Elementary Education and now serves as a 6th grade general education instructor at Rochester Central Lutheran […]
Jacob B. Weber, a 2010 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College with a degree in Church Music, has dedicated his life and career to sacred music, worship leadership, and teaching the […]
Ryan McCue graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, earning endorsement in Middle School Mathematics. He now teaches fifth grade math and science at United South […]
Seth Hueckman, a 2007 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College, majored in Engineering Sciences and has since built a career rooted in technical expertise, integrity, and hands-on problem solving. Now a […]
Avis Van Zomeren, a 2019 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College, majored in Psychology and now serves as a Marketing Strategist at Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa. In this […]
Anna Kempfert, Class of 2010, earned her degree in English with Secondary Education Licensure and Communication Arts Certification at Bethany Lutheran College. She later joined AmeriCorps VISTA as a Volunteer […]
Timothy Harting, a 2010 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College with a major in History, exemplifies how leadership, discipline, and a foundation in liberal arts can translate into impact across industries. […]
Jenna Albrecht, a 2016 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College, earned her degree in Business Administration and now serves as an Institutional Onboarding and Client Service Specialist at Parametric Portfolio Associates. […]
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Beautiful Campus, Perfect Location
Located in the charming and safe community of Mankato, Minnesota, Bethany is perched atop a large hill overlooking the downtown and the Minnesota River. Our beautiful campus is comprised of modern academic buildings, meticulously maintained dormitories, spacious greens, tall trees, and exceptional athletic facilities for all students.
Mankato is located 90 minutes south of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). New students arriving for the first time are welcomed at the airport and transported to campus by a Bethany representative. With a population of over 50,000, Mankato has many of the resources of a big city, without the traffic issues and other big city problems. See campus maps.
Local Climate & Weather Summary
Minnesota enjoys four distinct seasons of weather—summer, fall, winter, and spring.
Summer (June-August): If you arrive in August, you will enjoy our warm summer temperatures, typically between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius.
Fall (September-November): As the fall semester begins, the trees will change color from green to beautiful reds, purples, oranges, and yellows, and the temperature will drop to a cooler 15 to 25 degrees Celsius.
Winter (December-February): When winter rolls around, snow will fall and provide an elegant cover on our evergreen trees. Temperatures during this time of year are cold, so bring a coat along! One nice amenity to take advantage of at Bethany during colder days is the tunnel connection between academic buildings, so you don’t necessarily need a coat to go to class!
Spring (March-May): In March, spring begins, temperatures begin creeping back up to melt the snow away.
Distance to Bethany from major U.S. cities
| City | Distance | By Car |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota | 130km | 90 minutes |
| Sioux Falls, South Dakota | 250km | 2.5 hours |
| Des Moines, Iowa | 340km | 3.3 hours |
| Duluth, Minnesota / Lake Superior | 380km | 3.8 hours |
| Madison, Wisconsin | 470km | 4.5 hours |
| Milwaukee, Wisconsin / Lake Michigan | 575km | 5.5 hours |
| Chicago, Illinois | 700km | 6.5 hours |
| St. Louis, Missouri | 850km | 8.2 hours |
Bethany Provides Hands-on Learning Experiences
Bethany has optimal resources for hands-on learning in your major field or discipline, to give you opportunities to apply what you have learned. For example, our Communication and Media Arts departments have state-of-the-art facilities that allow students to film and produce television broadcasts that have won national awards. Our engineering sciences program students have constructed catapults, instruments, and even boats! Whatever your major, Bethany wants you to be applying what you learn so that you have real world work experiences prior to earning your degree.
Preparing You for Top Graduate School Programs
Many students desire to go to graduate school after earning their Bachelor’s degree. Admission into a reputable American graduate program in any field of study is competitive, and requires a quality undergraduate education.
More About Graduate School Programs
At Bethany, we have an excellent track record in making this dream a reality for students who want to get into a leading graduate program. Over 89% of Bethany graduates have been admitted to their first choice graduate school program.
Examples of top graduate schools nationwide into which our recent graduates have been accepted include:
- Princeton University
- Harvard University
- University of Chicago
- Duke University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Washington University in St. Louis
- New York University
- University of Wisconsin
- University of Florida
- University of Minnesota
- Marquette University
- Florida State University
English Proficiency
International students seeking admission to Bethany Lutheran College need to meet English proficiency requirements. You must satisfy the requirements of any one of the following tests: TOEFL: 60; IELTS: 5.5; Duolingo: 90; SAT: 1000
How to Apply to Bethany Lutheran College
Important Dates
For Fall 2025 Enrollment:
- April 30, 2025 – Application deadline (Apply Now!)
- May 15, 2025 – Tuition deposit deadline
- May 31, 2025 – Registration deadline
- June 30, 2025 – Payment deadline
- August 6, 2025 – Arrive at Bethany’s campus
- August 19, 2025 – Fall Semester classes begin
For Spring 2026 Enrollment:
- October 15, 2025 – Application deadline (Apply Now!)
- October 31, 2025 – Tuition deposit deadline
- November 15, 2025 – Registration deadline
- November 30, 2025 – Payment deadline
- January 2, 2026 – Arrive at Bethany’s campus
- January 5, 2026 – Spring Semester classes begin
Application Requirements
Bethany is looking for students of high moral character and high academic achievement. All prospective students who are non-U.S. citizens must show evidence of past academic success. To consider your application, the international admissions department will review the following items, which you may begin gathering now
Educational Records
- High school transcript (or college transcript for transfer students)
- Copy of any certificate or degree obtained
Test Scores
- Results from TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or another approved English proficiency indicator.
- If the student is from an English-speaking country, then official ACT or SAT scores shall be evaluated instead of English proficiency test.
- For students transferring from another US college or university, the test requirements may be waived pending review of official college transcripts.
Other Application Requirements
- One letter of recommendation
- Certificate of financial responsibility and supporting documents (bank statement)
- Passport copy
Admitted International Students
If you have been admitted to Bethany, you will need to complete the following important steps before you are able to enroll in classes:
- Pay the USD $300 tuition deposit. You can use FlyWire as a low-cost way of sending your tuition payments to Bethany. Please contact us if you have questions about FlyWire or making payments.
- Housing Form
- Certificate of Financial Responsibility
- A statement of health from your doctor (including current immunization records)
Contact the International Student Admissions Department
For the fastest response, please email usa@blc.edu.
Next Steps
Interested in studying at Bethany? Scheduling a campus visit is a great way to see what we have to offer. You can meet professors or sit in on a class too! Contact our admissions office to learn more.
