West Virginia · Bluefield
Bluefield State University
Founded in 1895 as a Black teachers college, Bluefield State in southern West Virginia is a public HBCU; long the smallest HBCU by percentage of Black enrollment, its student body demographics shifted sharply after integration.
Snapshot
At a glance
Undergraduate enrollment
1,042
Admission rate
97%
Retention (first-year)
55%
Completion (150% of time)
37%
Pell recipients
44%
Black undergraduate share
22%
These figures come from federal college data updated May 26, 2026. A dash means the number was not available.
Student body
Undergraduate composition
Black
22%
Hispanic
5%
White
66%
Asian
0%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0%
Two or more races
5%
Nonresident
0%
Unknown
0%
Percentages may not add to 100% when a category is not reported.
Costs
Tuition and financial aid
Tuition, in-state
$10,648
Tuition, out-of-state
$18,376
Median federal loan debt
$12,038
Federal loan recipients
55%
Pell recipients
44%
Sticker tuition only. Real cost after federal, state, and institutional aid is typically lower — see the school’s net price calculator.
Outcomes
Earnings, retention, and completion
Median earnings, 6 years
$35,030
Median earnings, 10 years
$38,217
Median debt
$12,038
Retention
55%
Completion
37%
Earnings and debt are shown only when federal data is available.
Institution
Campus and classification
Accreditor
Higher Learning Commission
Campus setting
Town: distant
Carnegie basic
Baccalaureate colleges: diverse fields
Undergraduate profile
Full-time four-year, inclusive
Size and setting
Small four-year, primarily nonresidential
Average faculty salary
$7,349 monthly
Full-time faculty share
63%
DOE unit ID
237215
These labels describe the school’s size, location, and academic mix. They are not rankings.
Test scores
SAT and ACT
SAT (average)
989
ACT composite (25th–75th)
17–22
Middle 50% of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores. Many HBCUs are test-optional or test-flexible; confirm the current policy at admissions.
26 programs
Academic programs
Undergraduate certificate · 5
- Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
- Business Administration, Management and Operations
- Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
- Science Technologies/Technicians, General
- Surveying Engineering
Associate · 5
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
- Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians
- Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
- Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Bachelor · 15
- Accounting and Related Services
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
- Biological and Physical Sciences
- Business Administration, Management and Operations
- Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians
- Computer and Information Sciences, General
- Criminal Justice and Corrections
- Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
- Engineering-Related Fields
- Health and Medical Administrative Services
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
- Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
- Social Sciences, General
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
Master · 1
- Business Administration, Management and Operations
This is a broad program list. Check the school’s own catalog for current majors, minors, concentrations, and course details.