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PublicTownHBCU

Bluefield State University

Bluefield, West Virginia 24701-2198

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Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateRuralPublicHBCU

Known for health sciences — close-knit campus

Bluefield State University is a public town institution in Bluefield, West Virginia. The school is accessible to a wide range of students, with an average SAT of 998.

A small campus of 1.2K undergraduates with a 17:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

35% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $38,217 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $12,529.

Established
1895
Motto
"Accept The Challenge"
Mascot
Sir Blue
Type
Public historically black university
Conference
now defunct West Virginia
Division
Division II

Plan Your Visit

87%Acceptance
998SAT Avg
1,231Students
17:1Student:Faculty
35%Grad Rate
$38,217Earnings 10yr
$12,529Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Bluefield State University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate87.2%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 998

Reading & WritingMid: 500
440540
MathMid: 495
430540

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 20
1722

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

87.2%

Trend

SAT Avg

998

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$10,240
Tuition (out-of-state)$17,560
Room & Board$11,327
Books & Supplies$1,200
Total Cost of Attendance$20,747
Average Net Price$12,529
Median Debt at Graduation$18,250
Monthly Payment (10yr)$193

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$10,971
$30–48K$11,213
$48–75K$11,772
$75–110K$16,204
$110K+$15,428

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

46.5%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$12,038

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

8

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

2

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

2

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (26)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

55%

Negative
  • •55% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
1,231
Gender Split
60% / 40%
Women / Men
First Generation
49%
Pell Grant Recipients
41%

Race & Ethnicity

White 72%
Black 17%
Hispanic 4%
Two+ 5%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate34.6%
Freshman Retention55.3%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$35,030
10 Years$38,217

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
↑2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
↓1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
↑3
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

WrestlingBasketball teamsGolfTennisVolleyball

History & Fun Facts

  • •History The Bluefield Colored Institute was founded in 1895 as a "high-graded school" for African Americans.
  • •Principal Hamilton Hatter supervised the first class of 40 pupils.
  • •In 1909, the institute became a normal school, adding the training of teachers to its curriculum.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

CLT Charlotte143 mi
RDU Raleigh-Durham166 mi
CMH Columbus209 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA644 mi · ~18h 36m drive
New York, NY455 mi · ~13h 9m drive
Hartford, CT552 mi · ~15h 57m drive
Providence, RI610 mi · ~17h 37m drive
Albany, NY543 mi · ~15h 41m drive
Syracuse, NY481 mi · ~13h 54m drive
Rochester, NY450 mi · ~13h drive
Buffalo, NY408 mi · ~11h 47m drive
Philadelphia, PA377 mi · ~10h 53m drive
Pittsburgh, PA229 mi · ~6h 37m drive
Harrisburg, PA313 mi · ~9h 3m drive
Newark, NJ449 mi · ~12h 58m drive
Washington, DC255 mi · ~7h 22m drive
Baltimore, MD287 mi · ~8h 17m drive
Atlanta, GA301 mi · ~8h 42m drive
Charlotte, NC143 mi · ~4h 8m drive
Raleigh, NC177 mi · ~5h 7m drive
Miami, FL797 mi · ~23h 1m drive
Orlando, FL603 mi · ~17h 25m drive
Tampa, FL647 mi · ~18h 41m drive
Nashville, TN316 mi · ~9h 8m drive
New Orleans, LA716 mi · ~20h 41m drive
Richmond, VA210 mi · ~6h 4m drive
Chicago, IL466 mi · ~13h 28m drive
Detroit, MI363 mi · ~10h 29m drive
Minneapolis, MN820 mi · ~23h 41m drive
St. Louis, MO497 mi · ~14h 21m drive
Kansas City, MO735 mi · ~21h 14m drive
Indianapolis, IN317 mi · ~9h 9m drive
Columbus, OH209 mi · ~6h 2m drive
Cleveland, OH294 mi · ~8h 30m drive
Milwaukee, WI532 mi · ~15h 22m drive
Dallas, TX932 mi · ~26h 55m drive
Houston, TX964 mi · ~27h 51m drive
Austin, TX1062 mi · ~30h 41m drive
San Antonio, TX1131 mi · ~32h 40m drive
Los Angeles, CA2076 mi · ~59h 58m drive
San Francisco, CA2238 mi · ~64h 39m drive
San Diego, CA2045 mi · ~59h 5m drive
Seattle, WA2185 mi · ~63h 7m drive
Portland, OR2196 mi · ~63h 26m drive
Denver, CO1292 mi · ~37h 19m drive
Phoenix, AZ1750 mi · ~50h 33m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1655 mi · ~47h 49m drive
Honolulu, HI4626 mi · ~133h 38m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Charlotte (CLT)143 miles
Rental car
215 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
286 min$172-286
Raleigh-Durham (RDU)166 miles
Rental car
249 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
332 min$199-332

Deadline Calendar

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Bluefield State University Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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Bluefield State University — v2 Preview — TourStack