Bluefield State University

Public · Moderately Selective · WV

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationWV · South

SettingRural

Undergrads1,042

Student:faculty13:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate17%

6-yr grad rate37%

Drop-out rate45.2%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$11k

Out-of-state tuition$18k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity33.8%

Gender diversity58.9%

International0.2%

IdentityHBCU

Overview

Bluefield State University is a public university in Bluefield, West Virginia, founded in 1895 to educate Black teachers for the region's coalfield communities. Its student body today is predominantly white, a demographic shift that makes it a distinctive case among historically Black colleges and universities, though its HBCU designation and founding mission remain part of its identity.

Academics

Engineering technology, nursing, and business are the university's core professional programs, reflecting demand from the surrounding southern West Virginia coalfield and Appalachian economy. Programs are practically oriented, with small classes and direct paths into regional employers.

Campus & student life

Bluefield is a small Appalachian city, and the university functions largely as a commuter and regional campus serving southern West Virginia and adjacent parts of Virginia, with a modest scale of campus life compared to larger public universities in the state.

Getting in

Bluefield State's admissions process is accessible rather than highly selective, consistent with its role as a regional access point to higher education in a historically underserved part of the state.

bluefieldstate.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate97.2%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 870–1080 · ACT 17–22

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying