In 1946, Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary (BLTS) began as a department of the college, becoming a separate institution in 1975.

[2] In 2001, Bethany awarded its first baccalaureate degrees, completing a five-year transition from its 74-year history as a junior college.

As of 2024, the college will offer 30 majors, 22 minors, a paralegal certification, and 7 pre-professional programs.

[3] In 2021, BLC begin offering a graduate program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

In addition, the campus houses a library, a chapel, the Bethany Activity Center and an advancement building.

[18] The fine arts center is also the location of the college's theater, which holds four productions every year, including a recurring vaudeville-style show titled "Theatre Physics" and a musical.

[21] BLC has twenty-four student clubs and organizations, not including their fine-arts activities, athletics, or speech and debate team.

[22] Bethany's speech and debate team is designated as part of the Communication Department, not a student-led organization.

[23] Bethany prohibits same-sex relationships and "public promotion" of homosexuality in its standards of conduct for students.

[26] The Vikings are members of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference in the NCAA Division III.

At that point, no UMAC basketball team had defeated a larger MIAC school in the playoffs, but the Vikings beat Bethel 62-58.