Bethel University - Tennessee

The information on this page was last updated 5/9/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]


Summary

Bethel is a private, faith-based, 4-year university with a supportive academic environment designed to help you succeed.


Contact information

Mailing address:
Bethel University
325 Cherry Avenue
McKenzie, TN 38201

Website: bethelu.edu

Phone: 731-352-4000

Email: [email protected]


Organization details

EIN: 620548913

CEO/President: Robert Watkins

Chairman: William Dobbins

Board size: 25

Founder:

Ruling year: 1946

Tax deductible: Yes

Fiscal year end: 07/31

Member of ECFA: No

Member of ECFA since:


Purpose

Bethel University creates a learning community which:

Accepts individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs.

Offers opportunities for individuals to contribute to the University and to other communities in a variety of ways.

Emphasizes human dignity and ethics that are consistent with the Christian tradition.

Encourages inquiry and the examination of values, self, and society.

Prepares individuals for the life-long pursuit of knowledge in a complex and constantly changing world.


Mission statement

The mission of Bethel University is to offer an accessible education, whether in person or through technology mediated methods, to the diverse learning community. The mission encompasses the goal of offering the opportunity to each individual to develop to the highest potential intellectually, spiritually, and socially in an environment that fosters Christian ideals of reverent spirituality with respect and inclusion of all members of the community.


Statement of faith

Since its founding in 1842, Bethel University has been affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Donor confidence score

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Transparency grade

D

To understand our transparency grade, click here.


Financial efficiency ratings

Sector: Colleges/Universities

CategoryRatingOverall rankSector rank
Overall efficiency rating338 of 111044 of 126
Fund acquisition rating124 of 111119 of 126
Resource allocation rating652 of 111178 of 126
Asset utilization rating518 of 111066 of 126

According to the organization's Form 990, it received $8,203,179 in government grants in 2023.


Financial ratios

Funding ratiosSector median20232022202120202019
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts =
Fundraising expense /
Total contributions
13%3%4%6%4%15%
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total revenue
2%0%1%1%0%0%
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance =
Total contributions /
Total revenue
18%19%18%10%13%3%
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total expenses
2%0%1%1%1%0%
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance =
Total other revenue /
Total revenue
82%81%82%90%87%97%
 
Operating ratiosSector median20232022202120202019
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio =
Program services /
Total expenses
84%82%82%78%77%80%
Spending ratio Spending ratio =
Total expenses /
Total revenue
98%99%100%100%95%100%
Program output ratio Program output ratio =
Program services /
Total revenue
81%81%82%78%73%80%
Savings ratio Savings ratio =
Surplus (deficit) /
Total revenue
2%1%0%0%5%0%
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate =
Surplus (deficit) /
Net assets
2%1%0%1%7%0%
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio =
Management and general expense /
Total expenses
13%17%17%21%22%20%
 
Investing ratiosSector median20232022202120202019
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total assets
0.520.520.550.560.590.61
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment =
Total assets /
Total current assets
2.615.385.093.723.733.40
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total current assets
1.412.792.792.102.192.07
 
Liquidity ratiosSector median20232022202120202019
Current ratio Current ratio =
Total current assets /
Total current liabilities
8.236.407.377.906.416.03
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio =
Total current liabilities /
Total current assets
0.120.160.140.130.160.17
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level =
(Total current assets -
Total current liabilities) /
(Total expenses / 12)
7.503.623.725.004.634.84
 
Solvency ratiosSector median20232022202120202019
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio =
Total liabilities /
Total assets
24%59%56%55%58%64%
Debt ratio Debt ratio =
Debt /
Total assets
11%56%53%52%53%59%
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio =
Net assets /
Total expenses
151%78%81%79%72%60%

Financials

Balance sheet
 
Assets20232022202120202019
Cash$1,209,638$1,133,069$621,360$1,930,534$1,675,575
Receivables, inventories, prepaids$17,008,929$12,627,434$19,310,025$19,838,535$24,892,342
Short-term investments$0$4,669,303$4,962,204$3,685,106$3,298,073
Other current assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total current assets$18,218,567$18,429,806$24,893,589$25,454,175$29,865,990
Long-term investments$15,544,865$14,322,937$5,114,055$5,477,532$5,416,882
Fixed assets$59,731,551$60,576,563$61,988,449$63,608,370$65,830,139
Other long-term assets$4,545,844$542,669$524,428$506,586$488,319
Total long-term assets$79,822,260$75,442,169$67,626,932$69,592,488$71,735,340
Total assets$98,040,827$93,871,975$92,520,521$95,046,663$101,601,330
 
Liabilities20232022202120202019
Payables and accrued expenses$1,788,037$1,359,413$1,455,732$2,498,378$3,213,835
Other current liabilities$1,059,807$1,142,881$1,696,332$1,475,452$1,740,330
Total current liabilities$2,847,844$2,502,294$3,152,064$3,973,830$4,954,165
Debt$55,334,312$49,822,383$47,916,756$50,673,741$59,600,096
Due to (from) affiliates$0$0$0$0$0
Other long-term liabilities$33,659$33,659$33,659$144,263$227,849
Total long-term liabilities$55,367,971$49,856,042$47,950,415$50,818,004$59,827,945
Total liabilities$58,215,815$52,358,336$51,102,479$54,791,834$64,782,110
 
Net assets20232022202120202019
Without donor restrictions$26,824,158$28,879,054$28,365,799$28,291,616$25,258,864
With donor restrictions$13,000,854$12,634,585$13,052,243$11,963,213$11,560,356
Net assets$39,825,012$41,513,639$41,418,042$40,254,829$36,819,220
 
Revenues and expenses
 
Revenue20232022202120202019
Total contributions$9,864,225$9,125,990$5,140,710$7,708,832$2,055,531
Program service revenue$41,593,787$42,328,627$47,264,735$50,967,529$59,850,173
Membership dues$0$0$0$0$0
Investment income$13,906$5,495$12,829$14,180$8,137
Other revenue$17,425$18,325$28,250$9,074$52,199
Total other revenue$41,625,118$42,352,447$47,305,814$50,990,783$59,910,509
Total revenue$51,489,343$51,478,437$52,446,524$58,699,615$61,966,040
 
Expenses20232022202120202019
Program services$41,784,487$42,104,470$40,944,698$43,014,558$49,310,268
Management and general$8,878,790$8,935,614$10,951,137$12,403,950$12,208,481
Fundraising$253,760$342,756$301,097$293,181$307,944
Total expenses$50,917,037$51,382,840$52,196,932$55,711,689$61,826,693
 
Change in net assets20232022202120202019
Surplus (deficit)$572,306$95,597$249,592$2,987,926$139,347
Other changes in net assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total change in net assets$572,306$95,597$249,592$2,987,926$139,347

Compensation

NameTitleCompensation
Walter G ButlerPresident$243,029
Phyllis K CampbellChief Academic Officer/Compliance Officer$187,767
Cindy A MallardVice President Cas/Academic Dean$154,199
Edward ScottExecutive Vice President$143,218
Kimberly A MartinVice President College of Professional Studies$130,058
Joseph R HamesVice President Chs$112,869

Compensation data as of: 7/31/2023


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 5/9/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]


History

Bethel College was granted a charter by the State of Tennessee in 1847 and operated as Bethel College until 2009 when the trustees voted to change its name to Bethel University.

Bethel's first president was Rev. Reuben Burrow, who served for 20 years. During his presidency, Rev. Burrow also served as a fundraiser, a member of the Board of Visitors, head of the Theology Department, and a teacher.

Bethel successfully weathered the economic hardship brought on by the Civil War and in 1865 admitted women for the first time.

In 1872, Bethel President W.W. Hendrix led the initiative to move Bethel from McLemoresville to its current location in McKenzie, where the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway intersected the Louisville & Nashville Railway.

During the 20th century, Bethel College made a name for itself as an outstanding church-affiliated school producing many graduates headed for the clergy, for the classroom as educators, and many other career paths.

In more recent years, the university has been an innovator, pioneering online education with Bethel's Success Adult Degree program. Bethel was also the first college in Tennessee to offer a laptop initiative where each full-time student would be provided with a laptop computer. Since then, Bethel has continued to innovate. The Renaissance Performing Arts Experience was developed to offer performing arts students scholarships, much like the scholarships awarded to student-athletes. This opportunity broadened the base of prospective students as did the introduction of a number of non-traditional athletics programs, including inline roller hockey, bowling, and bass fishing.

Master's degree programs including a Master of Arts in education, a Master of Science in physician assistant studies, a Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Arts in conflict resolution have been added through the years as options in learning platforms for the master's degree. Students can choose to learn face-to-face in the classroom, online, or via both platforms.

In 2009, the Bethel Board of Trustees voted unanimously to change Bethel College's name to Bethel University to best reflect the momentum the school was experiencing. Three colleges currently operate under the Bethel University umbrella: The College of Arts and Sciences, The College of Professional Studies, and The College of Health Sciences.

Our momentum has no signs of stopping. Last year, the football Wildcats finished the season with a 10-1 record. Our bass fishing team won a national championship. Enrollment continues to rise both in McKenzie and in our online program. Our graduates serve as leaders in government, businesses, and communities across the country.

For our students and Bethel University, the best is yet to come.


Program accomplishments


Needs