Bluefield State College

What Bluefield State College does

Bluefield State University is a public Historically Black College or University (HBCU) located in Bluefield, West Virginia, originally established in 1895 and renamed from Bluefield State College to Bluefield State University in 2022. It serves approximately 1,250-1,400 students across four academic colleges: Health Sciences, Business, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and Arts, Education and Sciences, with a 13:1 student-faculty ratio. The institution is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and holds program-specific accreditations from ABET, CCNE, ACEN, JRCERT, ACBSP, and CAEP, and was recognized as a Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader.

The university's core product is its academic programming, anchored by healthcare and STEM disciplines that feed into regional employer demand. Programs include nursing, radiologic technology, engineering technology, computer science, business, and education, with new offerings such as the MSET (Master of Science in Engineering Technology, launched 2026) and an IBM Badge certification partnership in data science. Underlying technology infrastructure consists of standard higher-education platforms including Ellucian Banner for ERP and Handshake for career services, with no disclosed proprietary technology platform.

Revenue is generated through a mix of public sources typical of a state-supported public university: state appropriations from West Virginia, tuition and fees, federal financial aid (including Pell and Title IV), federal grants, and private philanthropic donations. The student body is the primary customer, with clinical and industry partners (WVU Medicine, Princeton Community Hospital, IBM) serving as secondary stakeholders via pipeline and credentialing arrangements rather than direct revenue contributors. Recent metrics indicate modest improvement in retention (52% to 55% first-year retention between 2022 and 2024) and graduation rates (31% to 34% six-year for the 2017 and 2019 cohorts), with persistent headwinds from the well-documented HBCU funding disparity.

Name

Bluefield State College

Legal name

Bluefield State University

Website

https://bluefieldstate.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1895

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Bluefield State University is a public HBCU in Bluefield, West Virginia, serving approximately 1,250-1,400 students across healthcare, STEM, business, and education programs through a 13:1 student-faculty ratio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public HBCUs (State-Supported) (EDAHAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Historically Black Land-Grant Universities (1862/1890) (EDAHAMAD), Health Sciences & Medical-Serving HBCUs (Nursing/Allied Health/Public Health) (EDAHAMAI), Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA), Graduate & Professional-Program HBCUs (e.g., law/education/business) (EDAHAMAK), Online & Distance-Learning HBCUs (EDAHAMAJ)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Nursing education programs
• Engineering technology degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Bluefield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, including in-state and out-of-state rates. Mandatory fees for technology, student services, and facilities. Financial aid administered through federal and state programs.
2. Private Donations and Gifts: Annual fund contributions, major gifts, endowment income, and alumni donations. Example: $85,000 gift establishing Student Success Fund. Payroll deduction options for employees.
3. State Funding: West Virginia state appropriations for public higher education. Federal Title IV funding participation. Historically underfunded as an 1890 land-grant HBCU by estimated $12.6 billion over three decades.
4. Federal Grants and Sponsored Programs: Title III strengthening institutions funding. Research grants through RASP (Research & Sponsored Programs). Fulbright program participation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bluefield State University is a public HBCU that delivers affordable higher education through four academic colleges: Health Sciences, Business, STEM, and Arts/Education/Sciences. Programs span certificates through master's degrees in nursing, radiologic technology, engineering technology, computer science, business administration, education, and criminal justice, delivered on-campus in Bluefield and Beckley, WV, online, and in hybrid formats.

Product overview

Bluefield State University is a higher education institution offering a portfolio of academic programs across four colleges: the College of Health Sciences (nursing, imaging science, radiologic technology), the W. Paul Cole Jr. College of Business (business administration, MBA with multiple specializations), the College of STEM (engineering technology, computer science, mining engineering), and the College of Arts, Education and Sciences (humanities, education, social sciences, criminal justice). The institution also operates an Honors College and offers certificate programs including IBM badge certification in data science and alternative teacher certification. Programs are delivered in-person, online, and hybrid formats, with select programs (RN-BSN, imaging science) available fully online as 2+2 programs. Recent additions include a new Master of Science in Engineering Technology (launched 2026), representing the university's first graduate STEM degree.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• College of Health Sciences Programs Programs including RN-BSN baccalaureate degree, associate degree in nursing, baccalaureate in imaging science, associate degree in radiologic technology, and baccalaureate in allied health education. Programs offered in-person and online (2+2 format).
• W. Paul Cole, Jr. College of Business Programs Career-focused business programs with bachelor's degrees in business administration (accounting, entrepreneurship, management, marketing) and health services management, plus Master of Business Administration (MBA). Programs offered online or hybrid.
• College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Programs Baccalaureate and associate degrees in engineering technology (civil, electrical, mechanical, management), computer science with concentrations (cybersecurity, data science, software engineering), and mining engineering technology.
• College of Arts, Education and Sciences Programs Programs including Humanities (English, Strategic Public Relations), Elementary Education, Multi-Categorical Special Education with Autism, Social Sciences (History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology), and Criminal Justice (multiple concentrations).
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) Graduate business degree program with specializations including Healthcare Management, Human Resources, Leadership, Lean Manufacturing Supply Chain, Marketing, and Project Management.
• Master of Science in Engineering Technology The university's first graduate degree in a STEM discipline, a 30-credit-hour program targeting graduates and working professionals with bachelor's degrees in engineering technology or related fields.
• RN to BSN Program Online baccalaureate nursing program for registered nurses seeking to advance their education. Part of the College of Health Sciences.
• Associate Degree in Nursing (ASN) Associate degree nursing program accredited by ACEN, preparing students for RN licensure.
• Radiologic Technology Program Associate degree program in radiologic technology accredited by JRCERT for eight years, preparing students for ARRT certification.
• Computer Science Programs Bachelor's degrees in computer science with concentrations in Cybersecurity, Data Science, and Software Engineering.
• Engineering Technology Programs ABET-accredited associate and baccalaureate degrees in civil, electrical, mechanical engineering technology, and engineering management.
• Honors College Supports 20 Honors Scholars annually with intensive seminars, civic engagement, discovery experiences, and research opportunities. Provides enhanced curriculum parallel to students' academic programs.
• Alternative Teacher Certification Program Endorsed by the WV Department of Education; involves two online self-paced courses; can be completed in one semester; provides certification valid throughout West Virginia.
• IBM Badge Certification Data science certification partnership with IBM; Bluefield State is among the first institutions worldwide to offer IBM badge certification to students.
• West Virginia Junior Nursing Academy Partnership program among Bluefield State, WVU Medicine, Princeton Community Hospital, and Princeton Rescue Squad providing high school students an immersive introduction to nursing and healthcare professions.
• Career Services Department providing personalized support, expert resume building, and dynamic job placement assistance through the Handshake platform, Big Interview, and employment resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• NCLEX-RN First-Time Pass Rate: 73.13% (Class of 2025), Overall Rate: 95.52%
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WVU MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership for the West Virginia Junior Nursing Academy. WVU Medicine provides clinical expertise and mentorship for high school students exploring healthcare careers. Part of broader regional healthcare workforce development initiative.
• Princeton Community HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in West Virginia Junior Nursing Academy providing clinical exposure and healthcare workforce pipeline development. Regional hospital supporting healthcare education and student clinical experiences.
• Princeton Rescue SquadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency medical services partner in Junior Nursing Academy providing students hands-on exposure to emergency medicine and healthcare professions. Supports regional healthcare workforce development.
• McDowell Technical Education CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership hosting LPN students from McDowell County schools at Bluefield State's Medical Education Center for collaborative learning and clinical exposure.
• West Virginia Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed alternative teacher certification program for West Virginia. Department collaboration for addressing statewide teacher shortage through accelerated certification pathways.
• Double the DonationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer matching gift service integrated into donation portal. Helps donors determine if their employer will match charitable contributions to Bluefield State.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Tuskegee University: A larger, well-established 1890 land-grant HBCU with STEM, engineering, nursing, and business programs. Comparable in HBCU and land-grant identity, but operates at significantly greater scale and brand recognition, drawing top regional HBCU-bound students.

Regional players

• Concord University: A small public regional university in southern West Virginia with overlapping Appalachian recruitment territory and similarly affordable tuition. Comparable in scale and regional mission but not HBCU, making it a non-HBCU substitute rather than a direct peer.
• Virginia State University: An 1890 land-grant HBCU located in Virginia, geographically adjacent to Bluefield State's Southwest Virginia recruitment territory. Comparable in mission and program mix and a direct regional competitor for Virginia students.

Direct peers

• Central State University: An 1890 land-grant HBCU in Ohio with comparable enrollment size and a STEM/business/health workforce development emphasis. Comparable in serving first-generation and underrepresented students and in funding model.
• Kentucky State University: An 1890 land-grant HBCU with a similar profile: small public university, STEM and business programs, regional workforce focus, and modest enrollment scale. Comparable in mission, accreditation stack, and reliance on state appropriations.
• Southern University and A&M College: An 1890 land-grant HBCU offering STEM, nursing, business, and education programs. Comparable in HBCU mission, land-grant funding model, and program breadth, though operating at a larger scale.
• Lincoln University (Missouri): An 1890 land-grant HBCU in Missouri with similar small-enrollment profile, regional workforce development focus, and STEM/business/health program mix. Comparable in funding structure and student demographic.
• Fort Valley State University: An 1890 land-grant HBCU in Georgia offering STEM, agriculture, business, and education programs to a similar demographic. Comparable in mission, scale, and reliance on a mix of state and federal land-grant funding.
• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff: An 1890 land-grant HBCU offering STEM, agriculture, business, and education programs with a similar small-to-mid enrollment footprint. Comparable in funding structure (state appropriations plus federal land-grant support) and program mix.
• West Virginia State University: The other HBCU in West Virginia and an 1890 land-grant institution, directly competing with Bluefield State for in-state HBCU-bound students, state appropriations, and Appalachian region talent. Both institutions are small public HBCUs serving overlapping demographics in WV.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/BlfdState
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRIbrvPr5i0mckexqEqVUpQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/324029311740
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bluefield-state-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/bluefieldstatecollege

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bluefield State College