Bethany Lutheran College

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Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) is a private four-year liberal arts school. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, the campus overlooks the Minnesota River valley and is just 80 miles from Minneapolis-St. Paul.

BLC is committed to educating their students about the Bible and freely admits that the Christian faith governs how they teach their classes. The school also focuses their teachings on intellectual and creative growth and responsible citizenship. Among other objectives, BLC hopes that upon graduation students will:

• Practice independent critical thinking so that they are not shaken from the eternal foundations on which their moral and spiritual growth is based.
• Become responsible citizens, aware of social realities, through the study of American and world cultural heritage as well as contemporary social, economic, and political issues
• Encourage an attitude of Christian stewardship with regard to their talents and abilities that they be used for the glory of God and the welfare of mankind.

In order to graduate from BLC, students must take religious courses, go to daily chapel services and take part in other opportunities that celebrate their Christian faith; in addition they must pass general education courses and pass courses in their major.

Students at Bethany Lutheran College can study majors such as pre-med, pre-law, exercise science, and music. Believing that students learn best on a global level, administrators at Bethany Lutheran College offers students the chance to study abroad. Students can choose from a semester program, summer program, or exchange program. There are no set destinations to which students can choose from; rather the school selects a place that will benefit the student’s education.

History

In 1911 through 1927, BLC was known as the Bethany Ladies College, and enrolled 44 students. In 1927, the American Evangelical Lutheran Church (now the Evangelical Lutheran Synod) bought the campus and turned it into a high school and junior college. It wasn’t until 2001 that BLC gave out its first baccalaureate degrees.

Campus Life

Students can live on campus in one of 5 resident halls. There is, for example, Edgewood Place, which offers students two and three bedroom apartments complete with full kitchens and large accommodations. Or students can choose to live in Gullixson Hall, a newly completed resident hall that offers air conditioned apartments in which students can control their comfort level. Whichever resident hall students choose, they will have access to laundry facilities and a study lounge. They also are complete with trained staff to handle any situation that might occur.

Students at BLC can participate in numerous activities in and around campus. For instance, a student can take part in choir, Student Leadership, or one of the print publications the school has to offer. Students can also trek the eighty miles to Minneapolis-St. Paul where they have the opportunities that only a big city has to offer.

Bethany Lutheran College competes in Division III athletics. The BLC Vikings compete in such sports as basketball, cross country, and golf. In 2012, the school began offering track and field for both men and women.

Financial Aid

Overall, Bethany Lutheran College costs just about $33,500 to attend each year. BLC vows to work with students to make sure that they can afford an education. In the year of 2010-2011, nearly 83% of BLC applied for financial aid. While 100% of students received some form of aid, only 18% of those students saw their needs fully met. Upon graduation a student can expect to be $28,000 in debt.