Bluefield State College vs. Potomac State College of West Virginia University

Should I go to Bluefield State College or Potomac State College of West Virginia University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bluefield State College or Potomac State College of West Virginia University 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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Bluefield State College vs. Potomac State College of West Virginia University comparison
Bluefield State College Potomac State College of West Virginia University College 3 College 4
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Overview

Bluefield State College Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Location Bluefield, WV Keyser, WV
Setting Rural Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 1,306 1,145
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #986
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bluefieldstate.edu potomacstatecollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bluefield State College Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Tuition (In State) $8,840 $4,752
Tuition (Out of State) $16,030 $12,120
Room & Board $10,200 $9,386
Avg Net Price $11,759 $7,822
Avg Grant Aid $10,160 $6,043
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 89%

Admission

Bluefield State College Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 813 -
Admitted 790 -
Acceptance Rate 97.2% Open
Enrolled % 33.4% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.06
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/22
SAT Range 870/1080
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Bluefield State College Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (29%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
  • Agriculture (17%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Education (10%)

Outcomes

Bluefield State College Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Graduation Rate 22% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $31,800 $50,600
Making Student Loan Payments 30% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,000 $24,001
Median Loan Payment $196 $248

Diversity

Bluefield State College Potomac State College of West Virginia University
% Men 40% 42%
% Women 60% 58%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 85% 69%
% Black 9% 23%
% Hispanic 1% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 1%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Bluefield State College Potomac State College of West Virginia University
% In-State 54% 74%
% Out-of-State 46% 24%

Campus

Bluefield State College Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bluefield State College is larger than than Potomac State College of West Virginia University based on total student enrollment (1,306 students vs. 1,145 students)

Bluefield State College vs. Potomac State College of West Virginia University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bluefield State College or Potomac State College of West Virginia University?

  • Bluefield State College is 86% more expensive to attend than Potomac State College of West Virginia University for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $4,752.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.3% higher at Bluefield State College than Potomac State College of West Virginia University ($16,030.00 vs. $12,120.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Potomac State College of West Virginia University than Bluefield State College ($7,822 vs. $11,759)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Potomac State College of West Virginia University are 8.7% lower than costs at Bluefield State College ($9,386 vs. $10,200)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bluefield State College than Potomac State College of West Virginia University (96% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bluefield State College students is 68.1% larger than aid received Potomac State College of West Virginia University ($10,160 vs. $6,043)

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

  • Accepted freshman Bluefield State College students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Potomac State College of West Virginia University (3.06)

Bluefield State College vs. Potomac State College of West Virginia University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bluefield State College or Potomac State College of West Virginia University? 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 Potomac State College of West Virginia University and Bluefield State College.

  • Graduates from Potomac State College of West Virginia University earn on average $18,800 more per year than Bluefield State College graduates after ten years. ($50,600 vs. $31,800)
  • Bluefield State College students graduate with a $5,001 lower median federal student loan debt than Potomac State College of West Virginia University graduates. ($19,000 vs. $24,001)
  • Bluefield State College graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Potomac State College of West Virginia University graduates. ($196 vs. $248)
  • More Potomac State College of West Virginia University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bluefield State College students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 30%)

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