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AccessibleUpdated for the 2026-2027 cycle

Bluefield State University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

Bluefield State University, a public university in West Virginia, reports a 97% acceptance rate and sits in the accessible band. In practice that means it admits most qualified applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.

Your odds at Bluefield State University
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Bluefield State University weighs, where it ranks among West Virginia schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1100, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
97%
Accessible
SAT middle 50%
870-1080
of admitted students
Type
Public
Bluefield, WV
Average net price
$13,684
per year after aid

What do students study at Bluefield State University?

Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.

Liberal Arts and General Studies · 27 (19.9%)Health Professions and Related Programs · 27 (19.9%)Engineering Technologies · 25 (18.4%)Education · 16 (11.8%)Computer and Information Sciences · 11 (8.1%)Homeland Security, Law Enforcement and Firefighting · 10 (7.4%)

Will I get into Bluefield State University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Bluefield State University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Bluefield State University?

Your odds at Bluefield State University are not the same as its 97% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Bluefield State University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Bluefield State University hard to get into?

Bluefield State University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 97% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Bluefield State University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Bluefield State University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Bluefield State University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

Calculate your chances at Bluefield State University →

Your chances at Bluefield State University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Bluefield State University for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).

What are my chances at Bluefield State University with a 3.1 GPA and a 980 SAT?

About 98% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 980 SAT, the middle of Bluefield State University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1080 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Bluefield State University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 87025th pctSAT 980middleSAT 108075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.573%Safety89%Safety96%Safety92%Safety
2.893%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety
3.198%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety
3.498%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/bluefield-state-university.

How to get into Bluefield State University

Built from Bluefield State University's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.

There is no formula that guarantees a spot at Bluefield State University, but the applicants who get in tend to do the same four things. Here is what the numbers say each one looks like.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Bluefield State University carries about a 2.93 core GPA and a 1030 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.

Step 2
Decide on scores with the real range

The admitted middle 50% is 870 to 1080 SAT (17 to 22 ACT). Submit a score at 975 or higher; below 870, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Bluefield State University weighs

Bluefield State University rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 4
Apply in the round that helps

Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by Bluefield State University's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at bluefieldstate.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.

See your odds and your top moves at Bluefield State University →Add it to your college list →Official site: bluefieldstate.edu ↗

How many students apply to Bluefield State University, and how many get in?

Bluefield State University admitted 628 of the 720 students who applied for fall 2023, which works out to 87.2%. 216 enrolled. Only about 34% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. Bluefield State University enrolls about 1,042 undergraduates in total, 59% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1.

Applied
720
fall 2023
Admitted
628
87.2% of applicants
Enrolled
216
34% yield
Undergraduates
1,042
Bluefield, distant town

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Bluefield State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Bluefield State University scored between 870 and 1080 on the SAT (average 989). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 17 to 22. A score above 1080 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 870 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Bluefield State University is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.

SAT middle 50%
870-1080
average 989
ACT middle 50%
17-22
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.

What Bluefield State University looks for

What Bluefield State University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

The factors that carry the most weight at Bluefield State University are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Bluefield State University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important

SAT score positioning at Bluefield State University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Bluefield State University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200Above the admitted 75th percentile
1100In the competitive admitted range
Colleges for a 1100 SAT →Colleges for a 22 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Bluefield State University cost after financial aid?

Bluefield State University's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $21,839 per year. Tuition and fees are $10,648 for WV residents and $18,376 for out-of-state students, a $7,728 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $13,684 a year, and it ranges from $11,810 for families earning under $30,000 to $16,242 for families earning over $110,000. 44% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$21,839
per year, before aid
Average net price
$13,684
after grants and scholarships
In-state tuition
$10,648
$18,376 out of state
Pell recipients
44%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$11,810
$30k to $48k$10,703
$48k to $75k$14,630
$75k to $110k$17,058
Over $110k$16,242

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.

What do Bluefield State University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Ten years after enrolling, the median Bluefield State University student who received federal aid earns $38,217 a year, up from $35,030 at six years. 37% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 55% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $18,250; 55% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$38,217
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
37%
within six years
Retention
55%
return for year two
Median debt
$18,250
at graduation, borrowers

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.

How Bluefield State University compares in West Virginia

Bluefield State University ranks #12 most selective of 15 schools in West Virginia in our database.

Among the 15 West Virginia schools we track, Bluefield State University ranks #12 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Bethany College (WV) (59%) and Charleston University (WV) (62%) sit nearby, which makes West Virginia a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

Bethany College (WV)
59%acceptance · WV
Charleston University (WV)
62%acceptance · WV
Wheeling University
63%acceptance · WV
WVU Tech
65%acceptance · WV
Glenville State University
80%acceptance · WV
West Virginia University
89%acceptance · WV
Concord University
93%acceptance · WV
WV Wesleyan College
93%acceptance · WV
See all West Virginia schools →

Similar to Bluefield State University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Applicants targeting Bluefield State University often weigh Idaho State University, Texas Southern University, and University of Maine, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Idaho State University
97%acceptance · ID
Texas Southern University
97%acceptance · TX
University of Maine
97%acceptance · ME
University of Mississippi
97%acceptance · MS
University of Wyoming
97%acceptance · WY
Weber State University
97%acceptance · UT

Frequently asked questions

What is Bluefield State University's acceptance rate?

Bluefield State University admitted 628 of 720 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 87.2% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 34% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Bluefield State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 870 to 1080 on the SAT and 17 to 22 on the ACT. A score above 1080 is in the top quarter of admits. Bluefield State University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Bluefield State University test-optional?

Yes. Bluefield State University reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.

How much does Bluefield State University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Bluefield State University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $13,684 a year against a sticker price of about $21,839. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $11,810 on average.

What do Bluefield State University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Bluefield State University are $38,217 a year among students who received federal aid, and 37% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Bluefield State University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Bluefield State University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Bluefield State University favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Bluefield State University generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at Bluefield State University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Bluefield State University specifically.

What are the admission requirements for Bluefield State University?

Bluefield State University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.