Bluefield State University
Bluefield, WV 24701-2198
About Bluefield State University
Bluefield State University is a public four-year university in Bluefield, West Virginia, enrolling about 1,042 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 97.23% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $38,217 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Bluefield State University charges about 1.9× the national public median tuition ($10,648).
- Versus the West Virginia median, sticker tuition is 11% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 37.00%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $38,217.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Bluefield State University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 598% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluefield State University | $10,648 | $13,684 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| West Virginia (state median) | $9,574 | $9,114 | 36 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Bluefield State University really?
Key findings
- Bluefield State University charges about 1.9× the national public median tuition ($10,648).
- Versus the West Virginia median, sticker tuition is 11% above.
Bluefield State University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $10,648
Finding Bluefield State University charges about 1.9× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $10,648. That is about 1.9× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the West Virginia median ($9,574), sticker tuition is 11% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 11% below.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Bluefield State University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Bluefield State University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Bluefield State University is $13,684.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $13,684 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $4,570 above the West Virginia median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $1,287 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Bluefield State University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Bluefield State University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Bluefield State University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$10,648
Out-of-state tuition
$18,376
Avg. net price
$13,684
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $11,810 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,703 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $14,630 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $17,058 |
| $110,001+ | $16,242 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $42,592. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Bluefield State University is known for
Top program completions
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse86
- General Studies24
- Business Administration and Management, General24
- Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians22
- Elementary Education and Teaching16
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 34% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 989
- Midpoint ACT: 20
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Bluefield State University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Bluefield State University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Bluefield State University.
Campus
Location
Bluefield, WV
City / state
- ZIP
- 24701-2198
- NCES locale
- Town distant
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 9% below the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Size
Enrollment
1,042
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 1,562
- Graduate
- 24
- Full-time share
- 85%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$18,250
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 44.44%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Bluefield State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Bluefield State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Bluefield State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $5,564 | $10,536 | $8,843 |
| 2014 | $5,832 | $11,064 | $8,908 |
| 2015 | $6,120 | $11,280 | $8,348 |
| 2016 | $6,408 | $12,876 | $8,410 |
| 2017 | $6,728 | $13,032 | $9,065 |
| 2018 | $7,056 | $13,536 | $9,358 |
| 2019 | $7,488 | $14,352 | $8,367 |
| 2020 | $7,680 | $14,544 | $10,961 |
| 2021 | $8,784 | $15,982 | $11,143 |
| 2022 | $9,840 | $17,030 | $10,717 |
| 2023 | $10,240 | $17,560 | $12,529 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 989 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 20 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Bluefield State University reported total enrollment of about 1,042 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 41% male and 59% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (66.2%), Black or African American (22.4%), and Hispanic or Latino (5.3%). About 44.44% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 49.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
84.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Bluefield State University in 2024 is 1,042 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,562 students. Graduate enrollment is about 24 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
54.8%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
17.02% 100% Completion Time
37.00% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 17.02% of students graduating from Bluefield State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 22% male / 78% female
- General Studies: 29% male / 71% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 54% male / 46% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Bluefield State University graduates earn a median of $38,217 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Bluefield State University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $38,217. Median federal loan debt: $18,250. Average net price used in cost models: $13,684.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Bluefield State University graduates report median earnings of $38,217 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Bluefield State University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (23 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Bluefield State University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Bluefield State University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Bluefield State University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$4.6M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- West Virginia median 0.40× the median ($11.7M)
- Southeast median 0.24× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 0.18× the median ($26.4M)
- West Virginia median 0.46× the median ($9,559)
- Southeast median 0.48× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 0.37× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 63.0%
- West Virginia median 4.2 pp above median (58.7%)
- Southeast median 3.5 pp above median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 5.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,349
- West Virginia median 1.2× the median ($6,342)
- Southeast median 1.1× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,826
- West Virginia median 1.2× the median ($7,346)
- Southeast median 1.3× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Bluefield State University at a glance
Bluefield State University
Bluefield State University is a public institution in Bluefield, WV, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Registered Nursing/Registered NurseGeneral StudiesBusiness Administration and Management, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian66.2%Black or African American22.4%Hispanic or Latino5.3%
Schools near Bluefield State University
Other campuses in Bluefield, WV when available, plus nearby institutions in West Virginia.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within West Virginia, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bluefield State University located?
Bluefield State University is located in Bluefield, WV.
What is Bluefield State University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Bluefield State University is 97.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 720 applicants and 628 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Bluefield State University's tuition?
Bluefield State University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $10,648 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $13,684 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Bluefield State University cost?
Reported tuition is $10,648 and average net price is $13,684 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,512 annually.
What explains Bluefield State University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($13,684), completion (37.0% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($38,217). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Bluefield State University?
Bluefield State University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,562 students, White (66.2%), Black or African American (22.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Bluefield State University?
About 49.2% of students at Bluefield State University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Bluefield State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Bluefield State University reports midpoint SAT about 989 and midpoint ACT about 20.
What do graduates of Bluefield State University earn?
Median earnings are $35,030 six years after entry and $38,217 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Bluefield State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 37.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Bluefield State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $18,250.
Is Bluefield State University public or private?
Bluefield State University is a public institution located in Bluefield, WV.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.