National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)

Colleges that “actively engage” students help them to be more successful, research proves. For that reason, Bethel participates in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), a standardized survey that lets college second-semester freshmen and seniors grade their educational experiences on a 100-point scale with respect to five major benchmarks.

These benchmarks of engagement cover factors ranging from study abroad opportunities to the level of challenge in classes. The results offer our consumers a tool to measure quality in higher education, while allowing Bethel to improve in areas needed, such as freshmen’s perceived need for more interaction with faculty.

Beginning in November 2007, USA Today began to publish the NSSE scores of institutions willing to voluntarily post their scores online and discuss them in the newspaper.  Bethel is among those participating.

NSSE: Bethel Compared with National Average
Look for two facts while you read the following tables from the 2007 student survey, to which 60% of our freshmen and seniors responded: In most categories, Bethel’s scores are higher or significantly higher than 61 peer schools comparable in size and programs (Master’s Level 1). Also notable is evidence that Bethel students grow a great deal more than average from the beginning to the end of their college careers, as shown by a greater spread in their freshman-to-senior scores.

(Click on the * by each benchmark to see comparisons to other Minnesota schools and to faith-based schools.)

For information on how Bethel compares with Minnesota schools, and with other participating schools in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, click here.