Austin Peay State University vs. Bluefield State College

Should I go to Austin Peay State University or Bluefield State College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Austin Peay State University or Bluefield State College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Austin Peay State University vs. Bluefield State College comparison
Austin Peay State University Bluefield State College College 3 College 4
Austin Peay State University
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Overview

Austin Peay State University Bluefield State College
Location Clarksville, TN Bluefield, WV
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 9,945 1,270
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #922 #986
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website apsu.edu bluefieldstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Austin Peay State University Bluefield State College
Tuition (In State) $7,008 $9,240
Tuition (Out of State) $12,552 $16,560
Room & Board $13,070 $11,327
Avg Net Price $14,679 $14,500
Avg Grant Aid $11,247 $9,634
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 98%

Admission

Austin Peay State University Bluefield State College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,559 720
Admitted 5,334 628
Acceptance Rate 96% 87.2%
Enrolled % 30.8% 34.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.41
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23 17/22
SAT Range 943/1165 870/1080
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 4, 2026 Aug 1, 2026

Academics

Austin Peay State University Bluefield State College
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (14%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Health Professions (29%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Education (9%)

Outcomes

Austin Peay State University Bluefield State College
Graduation Rate 34% 22%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $31,800
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 30%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $19,000
Median Loan Payment $232 $196

Diversity

Austin Peay State University Bluefield State College
% Men 4% 0%
% Women 9% 1%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 63% 85%
% Black 20% 9%
% Hispanic 6% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 1%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Austin Peay State University Bluefield State College
% In-State 87% 54%
% Out-of-State 12% 46%

Campus

Austin Peay State University Bluefield State College
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Austin Peay State University is larger than than Bluefield State College based on total student enrollment (9,945 students vs. 1,270 students)

Austin Peay State University vs. Bluefield State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Austin Peay State University or Bluefield State College?

  • Bluefield State College is 31.8% more expensive to attend than Austin Peay State University for in-state tuition ($9,240.00 vs. $7,008.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31.9% higher at Bluefield State College than Austin Peay State University ($16,560.00 vs. $12,552.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bluefield State College than Austin Peay State University ($14,500 vs. $14,679)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bluefield State College are 15.4% lower than costs at Austin Peay State University ($11,327 vs. $13,070)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bluefield State College than Austin Peay State University (98% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Austin Peay State University students is 16.7% larger than aid received Bluefield State College ($11,247 vs. $9,634)

Austin Peay State University vs. Bluefield State College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Austin Peay State University or Bluefield State College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bluefield State College or Austin Peay State University .

  • The average SAT score at Austin Peay State University (1011) is 77 points higher than at Bluefield State College (934)
  • Incoming Austin Peay State University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Bluefield State College (20)
  • Accepted freshman Bluefield State College students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Austin Peay State University (3.3)
  • Austin Peay State University has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Bluefield State College (87.2%)

Austin Peay State University vs. Bluefield State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Austin Peay State University or Bluefield State College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Bluefield State College and Austin Peay State University.

  • The graduation rate at Austin Peay State University is higher than Bluefield State College (34% vs. 22%)
  • Graduates from Austin Peay State University earn on average $5,600 more per year than Bluefield State College graduates after ten years. ($37,400 vs. $31,800)
  • Bluefield State College students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Austin Peay State University graduates. ($19,000 vs. $22,500)
  • Bluefield State College graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Austin Peay State University graduates. ($196 vs. $232)
  • More Austin Peay State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bluefield State College students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 30%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/