Bluefield State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Bluefield, West Virginia. It enrolls 1,042 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
55/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes9
Value54
Affordability78
Selectivity7
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 97.2%, Bluefield State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
97.2%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
870 – 1080
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
17 – 22
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Bluefield State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
7.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Bluefield State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,684 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$13,684
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
44%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
55%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$10,648
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$18,376
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,512
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,512
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,600
Total Cost of Attendance
$21,839
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$11,810
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,703
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,630
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,058
Over $110,000
$16,242
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$18,250Medianpercentile
$23,47075%percentile
$37,56390%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,562
↓ $5,688
No Pell $10,500
↓ $7,750
Dependent students $9,820
↓ $8,430
Independent students $15,750
↓ $2,500
Female students $12,300
↓ $5,950
Male students $11,000
↓ $7,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,444, less than completers ($18,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
27% of full-time students who enrolled at Bluefield State University graduate within six years, and 55% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
27%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
55%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Bluefield State University earn a median of $38,217 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,217
Earning > $25K
61%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$27,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$39,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$28,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$34,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$39,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,700, about 30% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
18.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 68% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Bluefield State University is home to 1,042 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 49% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,042
Part-Time
15%
First-Generation
49%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 66.2%690
Black 22.4%233
Hispanic 5.3%55
Other 5.1%53
Asian 0.5%5
International 0.2%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Bluefield State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantBluefield, West Virginia
Housing
Partly residential233 beds available
Adult Learners
19%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
Bluefield State University offers
a varied set of programs:
19 distinct programs across
9 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bluefield State University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,268
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$4.6M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$66,563
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
60 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
18
30%
$78,773
Associate Professors
16
27%
$69,296
Assistant Professors
13
22%
$61,729
Instructors
13
22%
$51,126
Pros & Cons of Bluefield State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Bluefield State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Bluefield State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bluefield State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Bluefield State University.
Is Bluefield State University hard to get into?
Bluefield State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 97.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at Bluefield State University?
Bluefield State University has an acceptance rate of 97.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Bluefield State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bluefield State University scored between 870 and 1080 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Bluefield State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bluefield State University scored between 17 and 22 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Bluefield State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Bluefield State University is $13,684 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Bluefield State University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,217 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,684 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Bluefield State University known for?
Bluefield State University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Liberal Arts, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Bluefield State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Bluefield State University are $38,217, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Bluefield State University accredited?
Yes. Bluefield State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Bluefield State University?
Bluefield State University enrolls 1,042 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Bluefield State University?
Bluefield State University graduates 27% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Bluefield State University a public or private college?
Bluefield State University is a Public institution.
Where is Bluefield State University located?
Bluefield State University is located in Bluefield, West Virginia.
What programs does Bluefield State University offer?
Bluefield State University offers 19 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Liberal Arts, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Bluefield State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bluefield State University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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