Central State University vs. Bluefield State College

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

Central State University Bluefield State College
Location Wilberforce, OH Bluefield, WV
Setting Rural Fringe Rural Fringe
Enrollment 5,434 1,306
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1023 #986
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website centralstate.edu bluefieldstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Central State University Bluefield State College
Tuition (In State) $5,176 $8,840
Tuition (Out of State) $7,176 $16,030
Room & Board $10,900 $10,200
Avg Net Price $10,194 $11,759
Avg Grant Aid $6,943 $10,160
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 96%

Admission

Central State University Bluefield State College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,814 813
Admitted 3,388 790
Acceptance Rate 88.8% 97.2%
Enrolled % 18.1% 33.4%
Avg High School GPA 2.8 3.41
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 14/18 17/22
SAT Range 770/950 870/1080
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

Central State University Bluefield State College
Student to Faculty Ratio 21:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (29%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Education (9%)

Outcomes

Central State University Bluefield State College
Graduation Rate 24% 22%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $27,200 $31,800
Making Student Loan Payments 16% 30%
Median Student Loan Debt $39,000 $19,000
Median Loan Payment $403 $196

Diversity

Central State University Bluefield State College
% Men 30% 40%
% Women 70% 60%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Very Low
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 1% 85%
% Black 95% 9%
% Hispanic 1% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 1%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Central State University Bluefield State College
% In-State 55% 54%
% Out-of-State 36% 46%

Campus

Central 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

  • Central State University is larger than than Bluefield State College based on total student enrollment (5,434 students vs. 1,306 students)

Central State University vs. Bluefield State College Cost Comparison

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

  • Bluefield State College is 70.8% more expensive to attend than Central State University for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $5,176.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 123.4% higher at Bluefield State College than Central State University ($16,030.00 vs. $7,176.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central State University than Bluefield State College ($10,194 vs. $11,759)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bluefield State College are 6.9% lower than costs at Central State University ($10,200 vs. $10,900)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bluefield State College than Central State University (96% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bluefield State College students is 46.3% larger than aid received Central State University ($10,160 vs. $6,943)

Central State University vs. Bluefield State College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central 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 Central State University .

  • The average SAT score at Bluefield State College (934) is 157 points higher than at Central State University (777)
  • Incoming Bluefield State College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at Central State University (16)
  • Accepted freshman Bluefield State College students have a 0.61 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Central State University (2.8)
  • Bluefield State College has a higher acceptance rate (97.2%) than Central State University (88.8%)

Central State University vs. Bluefield State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central 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 Central State University.

  • The graduation rate at Central State University is higher than Bluefield State College (24% vs. 22%)
  • Graduates from Bluefield State College earn on average $4,600 more per year than Central State University graduates after ten years. ($31,800 vs. $27,200)
  • Bluefield State College students graduate with a $20,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Central State University graduates. ($19,000 vs. $39,000)
  • Bluefield State College graduates are paying $207 less per month on federal student loans than Central State University graduates. ($196 vs. $403)
  • More Bluefield State College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central State University students, three years after graduation. (30% vs. 16%)

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