Bethel University - Minnesota 
The information on this page was last updated 5/2/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
With a total enrollment of nearly 5,000 students within 100+ areas of undergraduate and graduate-level study, Bethel is the largest institution in the 13-member Christian College Consortium. First, we are Christ-followers, striving to live out the teachings of Jesus and to emulate His life as revealed in Scripture. We are also character-builders. Through healthy, supportive relationships and a culture of service, we develop the personal strength and emotional intelligence to make right choices in a broken world.
As learners, we are critical thinkers and problem-solvers committed to academic excellence and intellectual rigor. At the same time, we are truth-seekers, recognizing that all truth-scientific, artistic, philosophical, or theological-has its source in God.
We have been put on this earth for a purpose: God wants us to use our talents and compassion to be world-changers and reconcilers. As we humbly and honestly engage with our own biases and preconceptions, we grow closer to understanding Christ's infinite love and selfless mission of redemption.
In this complex and troubled world, we aim to be both salt and light-preserving the good and reflecting the guiding light of Christ. This requires a mature faith that is grounded in a personal relationship with God and able to withstand the storms of life.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Bethel University
3900 Bethel Dr.
St. Paul, MN 55112
Website: bethel.edu
Phone: 651-638-6400
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 410708577
CEO/President: Ross Allen
Chairman: Dan Dye
Board size: 33
Founder: John Alexis Edgren
Ruling year: 1997
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 05/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Bethel will be the Christ-centered university of choice for this century.
Rooted in faith. Committed to excellence. Bethel will become the leader in Christian higher education by building stronger communities, equipping confident leaders and gracious servants, and preparing passionate world-changers. Through our thoughts, words, and actions, we'll demonstrate what it means for a university to be centered on Jesus Christ.
Mission statement
Boldly informed and motivated by the Christian faith, Bethel University educates and energizes men and women for excellence in leadership, scholarship, and service. We prepare graduates to serve in strategic capacities to renew minds, live out biblical truth, transform culture, and advance the gospel.
Statement of faith
The Word of God. We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
The Trinity. We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.
God the Father. We believe in God the Father, an infinite personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of each person, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ. We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.
The Holy Spirit. We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.
Regeneration. We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
The Church. We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.
Christian Conduct. We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the well-being of others; that their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions; and that they should seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ.
The Ordinances. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Religious Liberty. We believe that every human being has direct relations with God and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore, Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other.
Church Cooperation. We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary basis.
The Last Things. We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
D
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Colleges/Universities
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 638 of 1118 | 71 of 130 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 475 of 1119 | 54 of 130 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 886 of 1119 | 100 of 130 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 439 of 1118 | 56 of 130 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 13% | 11% | 3% | 11% | 9% | 24% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 18% | 9% | 29% | 12% | 14% | 6% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 82% | 91% | 71% | 88% | 86% | 94% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 77% | 73% | 74% | 77% | 77% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 101% | 84% | 103% | 98% | 102% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 81% | 77% | 61% | 76% | 75% | 78% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | -1% | 16% | -3% | 2% | -2% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 1% | 0% | 19% | -3% | 4% | -3% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 13% | 22% | 26% | 25% | 22% | 22% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.51 | 0.57 | 0.60 | 0.67 | 0.69 | 0.72 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.61 | 2.34 | 2.32 | 2.62 | 2.76 | 2.50 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.41 | 1.33 | 1.40 | 1.74 | 1.91 | 1.81 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 7.92 | 17.02 | 11.86 | 8.40 | 6.08 | 7.13 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.13 | 0.06 | 0.08 | 0.12 | 0.16 | 0.14 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 7.43 | 8.48 | 7.84 | 6.06 | 5.24 | 5.71 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 24% | 36% | 38% | 44% | 58% | 51% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 11% | 22% | 21% | 23% | 26% | 24% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 148% | 112% | 103% | 84% | 60% | 68% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $7,462,864 | $9,723,728 | $16,498,152 | $17,903,014 | $24,314,535 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $9,443,154 | $6,355,870 | $7,076,268 | $11,164,842 | $8,344,419 |
| Short-term investments | $77,378,191 | $81,904,214 | $56,924,461 | $45,827,463 | $46,509,064 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $94,284,209 | $97,983,812 | $80,498,881 | $74,895,319 | $79,168,018 |
| Long-term investments | $16,038,203 | $17,361,453 | $12,593,781 | $10,484,564 | $10,303,356 |
| Fixed assets | $110,598,119 | $111,525,282 | $117,680,844 | $121,054,177 | $108,098,756 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $238,035 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $126,636,322 | $129,124,770 | $130,274,625 | $131,538,741 | $118,402,112 |
| Total assets | $220,920,531 | $227,108,582 | $210,773,506 | $206,434,060 | $197,570,130 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $2,916,904 | $5,399,021 | $6,290,835 | $7,097,149 | $9,893,400 |
| Other current liabilities | $2,623,404 | $2,861,367 | $3,294,553 | $5,218,978 | $1,204,586 |
| Total current liabilities | $5,540,308 | $8,260,388 | $9,585,388 | $12,316,127 | $11,097,986 |
| Debt | $47,641,825 | $47,770,473 | $49,365,257 | $53,987,435 | $48,156,416 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $26,499,310 | $29,246,882 | $33,495,351 | $54,219,290 | $41,632,492 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $74,141,135 | $77,017,355 | $82,860,608 | $108,206,725 | $89,788,908 |
| Total liabilities | $79,681,443 | $85,277,743 | $92,445,996 | $120,522,852 | $100,886,894 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $42,331,381 | $44,590,958 | $43,598,169 | $17,461,934 | $36,669,892 |
| With donor restrictions | $98,907,707 | $97,239,881 | $74,729,341 | $68,449,274 | $60,013,344 |
| Net assets | $141,239,088 | $141,830,839 | $118,327,510 | $85,911,208 | $96,683,236 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $11,483,339 | $47,702,138 | $16,363,024 | $21,225,633 | $8,266,777 |
| Program service revenue | $110,061,576 | $113,297,130 | $117,341,482 | $123,466,905 | $127,658,508 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $3,289,412 | $2,809,625 | $2,943,149 | $1,676,868 | $3,835,140 |
| Other revenue | $88,148 | $133,440 | $41,383 | $389,430 | $507,430 |
| Total other revenue | $113,439,136 | $116,240,195 | $120,326,014 | $125,533,203 | $132,001,078 |
| Total revenue | $124,922,475 | $163,942,333 | $136,689,038 | $146,758,836 | $140,267,855 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $96,618,590 | $100,557,467 | $103,956,719 | $109,928,360 | $109,746,154 |
| Management and general | $27,744,561 | $35,170,171 | $34,537,514 | $31,296,485 | $31,216,181 |
| Fundraising | $1,249,104 | $1,603,107 | $1,826,970 | $2,001,118 | $2,000,534 |
| Total expenses | $125,612,255 | $137,330,745 | $140,321,203 | $143,225,963 | $142,962,869 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($689,780) | $26,611,588 | ($3,632,165) | $3,532,873 | ($2,695,014) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($689,780) | $26,611,588 | ($3,632,165) | $3,532,873 | ($2,695,014) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Ross Allen | President | $375,443 |
| Robin Rylaarsdam | University Provost | $187,953 |
| Jeanne Osgood | Chief of Staff | $183,774 |
| Randall Bergen | Assoc Provost For the College of Adult and Profess | $168,988 |
| James Bender | VP For Advancement | $168,713 |
| Mark Posner | VP Facilities & Technology | $165,220 |
| Rahn Franklin | Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | $164,253 |
| Christina Hanson | Physician Assistant Program Director | $155,401 |
| Scott Moats | Interim CFO | $148,648 |
Compensation data as of: 5/31/2023
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 5/2/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
John Alexis Edgren founded Bethel as a seminary in 1871, with the name Baptist Union Theological Seminary. The seminary trained pastors to serve Swedish Baptist immigrants, fleeing religious persecution in Europe. Edgren, a sea captain and scholar who knew 30 languages, founded Bethel on the enduring conviction that Christians ought to love God with their minds and represent Him in all fields.
The Baptist General Conference (now Converge) took on support of the seminary in 1914, moved it from Chicago to St. Paul, and merged it with a Christian high school. Following World War II, Bethel answered demand for four-year degrees, becoming Bethel College & Seminary.
Over the following decades, visionary leaders expanded Bethel Seminary to the West and East coasts, while growing the undergraduate program in St. Paul. In 1989, non-theological graduate programs were launched, followed by bachelor's degrees for working adults along with online learning options.
In 2004, already classified among "master's level universities," Bethel changed its name to Bethel University to match its broad scope of programs across 4 schools: College of Arts & Sciences, College of Adult & Professional Studies, Graduate School, and Bethel Seminary.
Bethel remains a private, Christian university, sponsored in part by the churches of Converge, but open to all men and women willing to learn within an evangelical perspective and community.
Poised for the Future
In less than three decades, Bethel's programs have more than doubled to over 100 degree options, and enrollment has grown to nearly 5,000 students. But Bethel remains true to the vision of its founder, John Edgren: to develop broadly educated, critically thinking Christians-changing the world through service and leadership in Christ's name.
Program accomplishments
Bethel University has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1959. This "regional accreditation," recognized by the United States Department of Education, demonstrates that the university meets quality educational standards.
Many programs of the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Adult & Professional Studies, the Graduate School, and Bethel Seminary are accredited or approved through discipline-specific organizations that are national in scope. Programs in nursing, senior care, and education are approved through professional boards within Minnesota. The university is registered to operate within the State of Minnesota, and seminary programs are registered to operate in states where they are physically located.
The university also has established partnerships with Christian colleges and universities through the Christian College Consortium and the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities.