Home away from home: living on Bethel’s campus

When you roll up at Welcome Week at Bethel University, student volunteers provide one of the most joy-filled and memorable experiences imaginable. There’s a reason the week is iconic amongst the Bethel community.

Welcome Week is a beautiful thing that establishes instant camaraderie and excitement around each student’s residence hall community. But the intentionality, uplifting community, and benefits of living on Bethel’s campus extend all year long. 

“Often you will hear two alumni asking each other where they lived their freshman year, as there is a sense of pride and community with that designation,” says Nick Cedergren, associate dean of residence life. He and his team go to great lengths to ensure every living space at Bethel is clean and beautiful, with a warm and memorable Christ-centered community that helps every student thrive. “Our spaces are 'lived-in' facilities…used for so many different things outside of just sleeping,” he says. 

From well-furnished, shared community spaces to regular “shack” events hosted by resident assistants, to the casual connections that happen in passing throughout the day, every element of residence life at Bethel is thought-out, designed to foster growth and community, for every student’s personality or schedule. 

Intentional living spaces

No matter what you’re looking for in a living space, there’s a perfect residence area for you! From traditional dorm-style buildings for first-year students to apartment-like units with full kitchens, every space is designed with students in mind and fully staffed with caring and supportive student resident assistants and live-in resident directors.

Why live on campus?

“We often say in the department that our goal is to make the halls a home, and that starts move-in day of Welcome Week to when we say goodbye to everyone at the end of the year,” says Cedergren. “Residence halls are a space for true community to happen.” 

It goes without saying that, especially at a faith-centered place like Bethel, community is a big component of the college experience—and there’s nowhere it’s more evident than in the dorms. But there are some other great reasons to make campus home:

Thrive as a college student

“Research tells us that students who live on campus, in general, have more social connections, are more active members in campus event offerings, have a stronger support system, and tend to succeed more academically,” explains Cedergren. “Many only have four years to live with 100-250 friends in the same space. It is such a unique opportunity to live out our calling to be in community and love the Lord at the same time!”

Grow your faith

Floor- and stairwell-specific Bible studies are a part of being a Bethel student, with Shift for first-year students and community groups providing intentional, regular opportunities for prayer and connection whether you live on-campus or commute. But even outside of these specific groups, there’s a faith-infused warmth at Bethel, and it’s a place where you’ll be seen, known, and encouraged for who you are and who you’re becoming. 

“Late night conversations and doing life alongside others often leads to lifelong friendships,” says Emily Allen, assistant dean of residence life. “And amidst all the fun, the challenges of negotiating shared space, practicing compromise, and working together through conflict can sharpen us and help us grow to look a little more like Jesus.”

Save money

The cost of room and board is a significant investment. But when Bethel’s Office of Financial Aid recently put together a comparison of the actual costs of living off-campus for a year near Bethel versus living on campus, they found that living on campus, all-told, is actually cheaper than living nearby and commuting to class. Because of the high cost of living in the Twin Cities, and the extra expenses that add up quickly when living independently, it turns out only students who live with family save money by commuting. At Bethel, all dorms include wi-fi, smart TV access, and things like free laundry and printing. And living next door to your classes and campus amenities means you can cut back on gas or forego the expense of a car altogether. 

And Cedergren and his team work closely with facilities management staff to keep residential spaces operational, beautiful, and clean—all things you won’t have to worry about in the same way as if you were living on your own. 

Live close to the action

Stay in the heart of it all! Dorms are close to classes, campus social events, and resources like the library, dining venues, outdoor spaces, and the Wellness Center. You won’t miss a thing!

In a 2023 survey of Bethel students, proximity to friends and campus activities were among the most important reasons respondents chose to live on campus.

Living in one of Bethel’s residence areas provides a personalized and convenient space to sleep and study—that goes without saying—but it’s a wise choice in so many ways!

Hanna and Grace: a roommate story

Grace Wynia ’27 and Hanna Ahlquist ’28 are first-year students who both grew up in the Twin Cities area. They found each other over the Instagram account Bethel Admissions created for their incoming class, which is one place students can connect with potential roommates. 

Wynia chose Bethel for its perfect distance from home, the size of its campus and student body, faith focus, and health sciences programs (she’s majoring in rehabilitation and movement science, and Bethel’s an hour from her family). Ahlquist’s parents met as Bethel students, so she grew up attending Homecoming and Royals athletic events. While she looked at other schools, she found herself comparing everything to Bethel, and was drawn to the award-winning nursing program. 

After the pair connected online the January before they started at Bethel, they began texting and met for coffee—an encounter that sealed their decision to become roommates. As Welcome Week approached, they continued to fine-tune who was bringing what and how their space would shape up, meeting in person a final time to go through their packing checklist and ensure they were ready to go. That’s a step in the process they recommend to other incoming students, because of the peace of mind it gave them leading up to college. Even though so many things would be new and different, they’d have a trusted and familiar face to come home to. 

Some of their favorite parts of their room include college staples, as well as a few last-minute items that have enhanced their experience as students:

• Shoe mat, especially for Minnesota’s snowy and muddy seasons
• Rug (“friends WILL come lay on your floor,” they say)
• Bean bag chair
• Coffee bar (“anatomy at 9 a.m. is not for the weak”)
• Microwave (with plentiful instant mac and cheese cups)
• Minifridge with a freezer
• Desk mirror with lights for getting ready
• Couch and TV (“this is hit or miss, but we like it for hosting movie nights”)
• Shower caddy with toiletries for quick trips to the bathroom
• Speaker
• (Fake) Christmas tree for a little extra festivity around the holidays

The pair used a shared Pinterest board to agree on a few attributes and design directions, while leaving space for creativity and personality. “I worked at a greenhouse in high school, so I wanted to incorporate some plants, and I really wanted the lights. Grace wanted a rug, and thought it would be fun to incorporate more beachy decorations,” Ahlquist says. “We combined those things and created a blue and white cozy vibe that we love.” 

 

Life at Bethel: students’ perspective

Josiah Dudenhofer ’27 is majoring in nursing with a minor in biblical and theological studies, and as a resident assistant in Lissner, creates community centered on communication, inclusivity, and boldness in faith. He’s had the opportunity to sit down with a resident who was feeling left out and alone. “I had the opportunity to speak of the bigger picture, about seasons in our life and how Jesus intercedes in all of them,” Dudenhofer says. 

Between fun floor bonding opportunities, like “TP Time” and laughter-inducing food-catching competitions, he was able to share with that hurting resident that there was certainly a reason the resident was at Bethel, surrounded by their community. “There has been a dramatic change from a ‘no one cares’ mindset to ‘there is joy in who God has made me to be’,” something he says has been a joy as a leader. Residential community at Bethel is based on sharing moments, good and bad, and coming alongside one another.

So, what’s it really like living on campus, and what kinds of memories are made within the walls of Bethel’s residence areas? We talked with a sampling of undergrad Bethel students, who shared their favorite things about living in the dorms, why they chose to live on campus, and their hot takes on what should be added to the official Bethel packing list. Here’s what they had to say:

How to live on campus

You can experience residence life for yourself as you consider Bethel. A stop at a residence hall is included in all traditional campus visits, and once you’re admitted to Bethel, you’ll have the opportunity to stay overnight with students in a dorm as part of the Royal Retreat experience. 

If you’re a new student, you’ll apply for housing after you’re accepted, in the spring before you’ll begin at Bethel. Priority is based on the date you apply for housing, and you’ll be able to see your room number and begin connecting with your roommate. Returning students can apply for campus housing in January, with priority selection beginning in late February. 

You’ll have an opportunity to indicate a preferred residence area and/or roommate. Don’t have a roommate in mind? No worries! The residence life team will prayerfully match you with a roommate based on your interests and personality—like what you’re majoring in, and whether you’re a night owl or like to get up early. 

You'll feel right at home at Bethel.

Join the next class of motivated, active, and intelligent Bethel students who come here to prepare for a meaningful career and a life of purpose. Whether you live on campus or commute, you’ll find a home here.

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