,·Private Liberal Arts (Disciples of Christ-affiliated)·Est. 1840
“The oldest private college in West Virginia — a tight-knit liberal arts community on 1,300 acres in the Allegheny foothills.”
Bethany College is a small, residential liberal arts college tucked into the rolling hills of Bethany, West Virginia, just 15 miles from Wheeling and roughly 45 miles southwest of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1840 by Alexander Campbell, a leading minister of the Restoration Movement, Bethany is the oldest private college in West Virginia and was the first institution of higher education established in the state. With about 620 undergraduates and a 64-member faculty, it offers a true small-college experience: classes are taught by professors (not TAs), students are known by name, and the campus culture revolves around close mentorship and hands-on learning. The college is loosely affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) but is non-sectarian in operation, welcoming students of all backgrounds. Academically, Bethany is a traditional liberal arts college awarding Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in more than 25 fields, with particular strengths in psychology, communications, education, biology, equine studies, and pre-professional tracks (pre-med, pre-law, pre-vet, pre-engineering, pre-physical therapy). Every Bethany undergraduate completes a senior comprehensive project — a capstone exam or research thesis that mirrors graduate-level work — and most students complete an internship before graduation. The campus itself, a National Register of Historic Places district anchored by the Gothic Revival 'Old Main' tower, is the birthplace of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity (1858) and home to Parkinson Forest, designated West Virginia's oldest old-growth forest. Student life is grounded in a rural college-town setting that pushes students outdoors and into the campus community. Bethany competes in NCAA Division III as the Bison, fielding 14 varsity sports in the Presidents' Athletic Conference, and sustains a robust Greek system, a popular Outdoors Club (hiking, skiing, whitewater rafting), and 30+ student organizations. Career outcomes are notably strong for a school of its size: 100% of the Class of 2023 reported being employed or in graduate school within six months of commencement, and Bethany alumni have gone on to graduate programs at Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, Princeton, the University of Chicago, and Vanderbilt.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceRolling Admission (Fall)
Bethany uses rolling admissions; applying earlier improves housing and scholarship prospects.
WV Tuition Covered Program priority
WV residents must be accepted by Dec 1, 2025 to qualify for the WV Tuition Covered Program.
AP Scholarship priority
Apply and be accepted by April 1 to be eligible for the AP Scholarship award.
International — Fall preferred
Preferred deadline for international students entering the Fall semester (allows time for I-20 issuance and visa interview).
International — Spring preferred
Preferred deadline for international students entering the Spring semester.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$31,920 – $36,102
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Anchors Bethany's liberal arts core with programs in English, history, philosophy, religious studies, communications, music, theatre, and visual arts. Communications is one of the college's most popular majors, with strong PRSSA chapter activity and hands-on student media.
Houses biology, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, and physics. The division is best known for its pre-medical and pre-health pipeline and for placing graduates into top doctoral programs at institutions like Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, and Case Western.
Bethany's largest division by enrollment, including psychology (the #1 major), sociology, political science, economics, and history. Students benefit from small seminars and required senior research projects modeled on graduate-style capstones.
Offers teacher licensure programs, physical education / coaching, and Bethany's signature equine studies major. The equine program leverages the college's 1,300-acre rural campus and competitive equestrian team.
Focuses on undergraduate business administration, accounting, economics, and entrepreneurship, with required internships and a capstone consulting project.
4 years
One of only a handful of equine studies majors in the Mid-Atlantic. Students train at Bethany's on-campus equestrian facility, ride competitively in the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association, and choose tracks in equine business management, riding instruction, or pre-veterinary medicine.
4 years
A consistently popular major built around PRSSA-accredited curriculum, internships in Pittsburgh and Wheeling media markets, and hands-on roles with the campus radio station and student paper. Strong placement into corporate communications, agency PR, and graduate journalism programs.
4 years
Bethany's flagship pre-health pipeline. Faculty work one-on-one with students on senior research projects, with alumni placing into MD, DO, DDS, and DVM programs as well as PhD programs at Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, and Case Western Reserve.
4 years
The single most popular major at Bethany. Capstone-driven curriculum with an active Psychology Club, undergraduate research opportunities, and graduate-school placement at programs like Duquesne, Ohio State, and the University of Chicago.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $36,765
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
