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Bluefield University is a private, not-for-profit college in Bluefield, Virginia. The Christian college is affiliated with the Baptist church and strives to offer its students a rich and diverse college experience. The school was founded in 1922 after getting the permission to start enrolling students from the Baptist General Association in 1919. Currently there are 1,100 students enrolled at the university, studying a variety of professions including Business Administration, Public Health, Human Services, Criminal Justice, and Exercise Science. The majority of students are male at 56%, while females make up 44% of the student population.


Overview of Bluefield University (BU)


Located in the southwestern part of Virginia, students will enjoy all four seasons with relatively mild winters. Students are encouraged to offer volunteer services of local businesses and charities and take part in social service initiatives both on and off campus. Students have the option of living either on or off campus, and the majority of students are enrolled in undergraduate programs, although graduate programs are also offered.

General Information


School Type Private not-for-profit
Campus Setting Town: Distant
Campus Housing Yes
Student Faculty Ratio 14:1
Graduation Rate 36%
Year Founded 1922

Student Enrollment


Total Students1,156

Undergraduate
939
Graduate
217

Undergraduate Student

Male 423
423
Female 516
516

Graduate Student

Male 98
98
Female 119
119

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Bluefield University Acceptance Rate and Admissions


APPLICATIONS905

Male 504
Female 401

ACCEPTANCE688

Male 388
Female 301

Acceptance Rate76%

Male 77%
Female 75%

Enrollment 138

Male 83
Female 55
Admissions
Application Fee NA
High School GPA Required
High School Rank Required
High School Transcripts Required
College Prep Courses Recommended
Recommendations N/A
SAT/ACT Required
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Required
Application Deadline Rolling
Common Application Accepted No

Bluefield University Tuition Cost & Financial Aid


Below is the breakdown of costs to attend Bluefield University.

Tuition for both in-state and out-of-state students is $27,036 per year. For students who opt to live on campus, room and board cost $9,356. Once other costs are factored in, students will pay $40,132 per year to attend the school. Ninety-nine percent of all students receive some form of financial aid. Almost all students receive grants or scholarships from both public and private sources. These sources include scholarships from the school, private scholarships from other organizations, grants from private donors and federal grants such as Pell Grants. At least 85% of students receive student loans, either private, federal or both. Once scholarships and grants are factored in, students need on average $23,054 in student loans to complete their education. The amount of loans a student needs to complete their education is referred to as net price.

Average net price 2018-2019
Net Price $23,054
Average Total Aid $17,151
Students Receiving Financial Aid 99%
Room & Board $9,356

Sticker Price


  • Tuition In-State - $27,036
  • Tuition Out-of-State - $27,036
  • Books and Supplies - $440
  • Room & Board - $9,356
  • Other - $3,300

Academics


Here is some information regarding the academic history and current attendance rates for Bluefield University.

  • Retention Rate:
    The retention rate measures the number of students that return to a school after their initial first year. Bluefield University has a retention rate of 53%. This means that for every 100 incoming freshman, 53 return for a second year at the school. This is a bit on the low side, but still indicates that the majority of students who start at the school return for at least a second year.
  • Graduation Rate:
    This is the percentage of students that actually complete a degree at a school; around 22% of students who graduate from Bluefield do so within four years, while 36% graduate within six years. The remaining percentages are divided between those who finish in less than four years and those who need more than six years to complete their degrees. This is based off a four-year degree program.
  • Student to Faculty Ratio:
    This measures the number of students per faculty member. Bluefield has a 14:1 student faculty ratio, which is a good indication that students can expect to have one-on-one time with faculty if needed, but still have the opportunity for engagement with other students in a classroom environment.

When combined, these statistics show that students that attend Bluefield University have the opportunity to develop long-lasting relationships with both fellow students and the faculty. It also shows that most students graduate and have the opportunity to experience fruitful and engaging discussions with both fellow students and faculty.

Student Population Total


Student Population 1,156

Undergraduate
939
Graduate
217
Evening Classes : No
Online Learning : Yes

Most Popular Programs & Majors

(# of Diplomas Awarded by Subject)


All Business Majors 39 Total Graduates / 23%
Business Administration and Management, General 21 Graduates
Organizational Leadership 18 Graduates
Health Professions and Related Programs 29 Total Graduates / 17%
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 29 Graduates
Public Administration and Social Service Professions 23 Total Graduates / 14%
Human Services, General 23 Graduates
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services 17 Total Graduates / 10%
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 17 Graduates
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology 13 Total Graduates / 8%
Exercise Science and Kinesiology 13 Graduates
All Other Diplomas 28%

Outcome & Salary


Although the total net price for attending four years at Bluefield is over $92,000, there are indicators that the return of investment is rather high. The average starting salary for a new graduate is $44,500, but that increases to $59,223 after a few years working in a chosen career and increases to $70,400 by mid-career. This means that within 10 years, a graduate would have earned $592,230. So, a graduate should earn enough to be able to afford to repay their loans provided they can find employment in their chosen profession.

Graduates Salary
College Grads Early Career Salary $44,500
College Grads Average Salary $59,223
College Grads Mid Career Salary $70,400
Return on Investment (ROI)
10 Year Salary Earnings Potential $592,230
20 Year Salary Earnings Potential $1,296,230
Cost of Education (Net Price) 4 Year $92,216
10 Year Projected ROI $500,014
20 Year Projected ROI $1,204,014
No College Education Salary Comparison
National Average Salary $38,792
10 Year Projected Income $387,920
20 Year Projected Income $775,840

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