Bluffton University vs. Bluefield State College

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

Bluffton University Bluefield State College
Location Bluffton, OH Bluefield, WV
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 745 1,306
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #986
Religious Affiliation Mennonite Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bluffton.edu bluefieldstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bluffton University Bluefield State College
Tuition (In State) $34,716 $8,840
Tuition (Out of State) $34,716 $16,030
Room & Board $11,602 $10,200
Avg Net Price $21,247 $11,759
Avg Grant Aid $28,214 $10,160
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

Bluffton University Bluefield State College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,105 813
Admitted 1,064 790
Acceptance Rate 96.3% 97.2%
Enrolled % 15.2% 33.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.26 3.41
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/22
SAT Range 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 1, 2025

Academics

Bluffton University Bluefield State College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (41%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • Health Professions (29%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Education (9%)

Outcomes

Bluffton University Bluefield State College
Graduation Rate 59% 22%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,600 $31,800
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 30%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $19,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $196

Diversity

Bluffton University Bluefield State College
% Men 49% 40%
% Women 51% 60%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 85% 85%
% Black 6% 9%
% Hispanic 4% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Bluffton University Bluefield State College
% In-State 79% 54%
% Out-of-State 19% 46%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bluefield State College is larger than than Bluffton University based on total student enrollment (1,306 students vs. 745 students)

Bluffton University vs. Bluefield State College Cost Comparison

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

  • Bluffton University is 292.7% more expensive to attend than Bluefield State College for in-state tuition ($34,716.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 116.6% higher at Bluffton University than Bluefield State College ($34,716.00 vs. $16,030.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bluefield State College than Bluffton University ($11,759 vs. $21,247)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bluefield State College are 13.7% lower than costs at Bluffton University ($10,200 vs. $11,602)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bluffton University than Bluefield State College (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bluffton University students is 177.7% larger than aid received Bluefield State College ($28,214 vs. $10,160)

Bluffton University vs. Bluefield State College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bluffton 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 Bluffton University .

  • The average SAT score at Bluffton University (972) is 38 points higher than at Bluefield State College (934)
  • Incoming Bluffton University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Bluefield State College (20)
  • Accepted freshman Bluefield State College students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Bluffton University (3.26)
  • Bluefield State College has a higher acceptance rate (97.2%) than Bluffton University (96.3%)

Bluffton University vs. Bluefield State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bluffton 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 Bluffton University.

  • The graduation rate at Bluffton University is higher than Bluefield State College (59% vs. 22%)
  • Graduates from Bluffton University earn on average $8,800 more per year than Bluefield State College graduates after ten years. ($40,600 vs. $31,800)
  • Bluefield State College students graduate with a $8,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Bluffton University graduates. ($19,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Bluefield State College graduates are paying $83 less per month on federal student loans than Bluffton University graduates. ($196 vs. $279)
  • More Bluffton University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bluefield State College students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 30%)

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