As a small campus, retention rates can have a significant impact on Bethel College. The retention rate is the percentage of students who were enrolled in one semester and then re-enroll the next semester. This excludes graduates and non-degree-seeking students.
In the past few years, the retention rate has reached a 15-year low. From fall 2025 to spring 2026, 85.1% of students returned to campus. From fall 2025 to fall 2026, 63% of students returned.
There are many reasons students may choose not to return to Bethel. Assistant Vice President for Employment Experiences and Student Success Joseph Husong says, “We have a lot of little things that just compound until students want to leave.”
One of those reasons could be the coaching turnover. Husong says, “We have had two head coaches that have stayed in the last five years.” This can make it difficult for athletes to want to stay at Bethel.
A large amount of Bethel’s campus is made up of athletes. Many have been recruited by a specific coach to come to Bethel and play. Senior football player Thomas Ippolito says, “For freshmen if your coach leaves you’re not going to want to stick around because there’s a bond that is formed.”
Alternatively, the Bethel College tennis team has one of the longest-serving coaches on campus. Senior tennis player Karissa Wilson says, “People get to know him through the recruiting process and they know he is steady and stable.” Having a coach who is expected to return each year can provide athletes with a sense of stability, which gives them an incentive to return.
Another aspect of retention is safety. Husong says, “In the spring we did student satisfaction surveys. Students expressed concerns about campus safety.” One concern is that students may not know proper safety procedures. There is a safety protocols page on the main Bethel website, however, students do not receive full training on safety procedures. Many students come from other states or countries and may not have experienced the same type of weather that occurs in the Midwest, making it important for students to know what to do in situations such as tornadoes.
One reason some students choose to stay at Bethel is the sense of community. As Husong states, “We need to make sure students are feeling connections. Bethel’s community is really strong.” Building strong connections on campus may help encourage students to remain at Bethel and could contribute to improving retention rates.