Bluefield State University

What Bluefield State University does

Bluefield State University is a public historically black university (HBCU) in Bluefield, West Virginia, founded in 1895 and transitioned from college to university status in 2022. It serves approximately 1,400 students (2025), of whom roughly 74% are enrolled full-time, drawn from more than 10 countries and 30 U.S. states, including first-time freshmen, transfer students, graduate students, veterans, and international learners. The university operates four colleges (Arts, Education and Sciences; Health Sciences; W. Paul Cole, Jr. College of Business; and STEM) delivering certificate through master's degree programs, with nursing, engineering technology, business administration, radiologic technology, and teacher education as flagship offerings; online and hybrid formats supplement two physical campuses in Bluefield and Beckley.

The institution runs on a standard higher-education technology stack: Ellucian Cloud Campus and CRM Recruit for enrollment and student services, Banner and DegreeWorks for academic planning, Microsoft 365 for communications, Handshake for career placement, Big Interview for interview preparation, and IBM badge programs in data science. Programmatic accreditations from ABET, ACBSP, ACEN, CCNE, JRCERT, CAEP, and the Higher Learning Commission provide regulatory legitimacy and federal Title IV eligibility.

The revenue model combines tuition and mandatory fees, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission state appropriations, and fundraising through the BSU Foundation (annual fund, endowed scholarships, athletics donations, major gifts, employer matching). The university employs 251-500 staff and faculty and reports near-100% job placement in engineering technology and radiologic technology, 100% RN employment within one year, and a 93.1% ARRT credentialing pass rate (5-year average).

Name

Bluefield State University

Legal name

Bluefield State University

Website

https://bluefieldstate.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1895

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Bluefield State University is a public HBCU in West Virginia serving roughly 1,400 students through four colleges offering certificate through master's degrees in nursing, engineering technology, business, and education, with a 13:1 faculty ratio and online/hybrid delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Higher Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Graduate & Professional-Program HBCUs (e.g., law/education/business) (EDAHAMAK)

Keywords

• Public higher education
• HBCU degree programs
• Nursing education
• Engineering technology degrees
• Workforce development training

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Bluefield State University generates primary revenue through tuition and mandatory fees charged to enrolled students across associate, bachelor, and graduate degree programs. The university offers in-state rates for West Virginia residents and participates in federal Title IV financial aid programs.
2. State Funding and Appropriations: As a public historically black institution in West Virginia, the university receives state appropriations and funding through the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, supplementing tuition revenue.
3. Donations and Fundraising: The university's advancement office and BSC Foundation solicit charitable contributions through annual funds, endowed scholarships, athletics donations, and major gift campaigns. The university also runs an employer matching gift program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bluefield State University delivers certificate, associate, bachelor, and master degree programs through four colleges (Arts, Education and Sciences; Health Sciences; W. Paul Cole, Jr. College of Business; and STEM) in in-person, online, and hybrid formats. Its portfolio includes ABET-accredited engineering technology, ACEN/CCNE-accredited nursing, JRCERT-accredited radiologic technology, ACBSP-accredited business, and elementary education programs aligned with regional workforce demand in southern West Virginia.

Product overview

Bluefield State University is a historically black institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs through four colleges: the College of Arts, Education and Sciences; College of Health Sciences; W. Paul Cole, Jr. College of Business; and College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The university provides certificate, associate, bachelor, and master degree programs. Key offerings include nursing programs (ASN to BSN), engineering technology (ABET-accredited), business administration (ACBSP-accredited), computer science with cybersecurity/data science/software engineering concentrations, and criminal justice with multiple specializations. The institution also operates an Honors College supporting select scholars, and recently launched its first STEM graduate degree (MSET). Programs are delivered through in-person, online, and hybrid formats with multiple 8-week session options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) College offering baccalaureate and associate degrees in engineering technology (civil, electrical, mechanical, management) with ABET accreditation and near-100% career job placement; integrates traditional STEM disciplines with a curriculum focused on 21st-century problem-solving for undergraduate students.
• College of Health Sciences College delivering nursing (ASN, RN-BSN), radiologic technology, imaging science baccalaureate, and allied health education degrees, with both in-person and fully online options. Accredited by ACEN, CCNE, and JRCERT, supporting healthcare workforce development.
• W. Paul Cole, Jr. College of Business College offering business administration (accounting, entrepreneurship, management, marketing), health services management, and MBA programs; ACBSP-accredited with online and hybrid options.
• College of Arts, Education and Sciences Foundational college providing baccalaureate degrees in humanities (English and Strategic Public Relations concentrations), Elementary Education, Multi-Categorical Special Education with Autism, and Criminal Justice (with concentrations including Cyber Security and Homeland Security).
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) Graduate MBA degree program with online or hybrid 8-week session format and specializations in Healthcare Management, Human Resources, Leadership, Lean Manufacturing Supply Chain, Marketing, and Project Management for working professionals.
• Master of Science in Engineering Technology (MSET) 30-credit-hour STEM graduate degree targeting bachelor's-degree holders in engineering technology or related fields; the university's first graduate degree in a STEM discipline.
• Nursing Programs Comprehensive nursing education including Accelerated A.S. Nursing, Accelerated LPN to RN (A.S.N.), R.N. to B.S.N. (fully online), and School Nurse Certificate; ACEN- and CCNE-accredited with a 100% graduate employment rate.
• Radiologic Technology Associate degree in radiologic technology with maximum eight-year JRCERT accreditation; includes clinical training across all stages of lifespan with emphasis on professional codes of conduct and ethics, and a 100% job placement rate (5-year average).
• Honors College Selective Honors College program supporting approximately 20 Honors Scholars annually; provides intensive seminars, civic engagement, discovery experiences, and research opportunities focused on intellectual rigor, creativity, and faculty-student engagement.
• West Virginia Junior Nursing Academy Pipeline partnership program with WVU Medicine, Princeton Community Hospital, and Princeton Rescue Squad offering high school students immersive exposure to nursing and healthcare professions through hands-on learning and mentorship.

Quantifiable outcome

• Near 100% career job placement rate for engineering technology graduates
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WVU MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026WVU Medicine is a key partner in the West Virginia Junior Nursing Academy hosted at Bluefield State University's Medical Education Center. The partnership provides high school students with immersive healthcare learning experiences, clinical mentorship, and hands-on exposure to nursing and healthcare professions, supporting the regional healthcare workforce pipeline.
• Princeton Community HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026Princeton Community Hospital partners with Bluefield State in the West Virginia Junior Nursing Academy, contributing clinical learning environments and professional mentorship to inspire the next generation of healthcare providers in southern West Virginia.
• Princeton Rescue SquadcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026Princeton Rescue Squad participates in the West Virginia Junior Nursing Academy by providing students exposure to emergency medicine and pre-hospital healthcare careers, expanding the scope of the academy's workforce development mission.
• Food Lion / Food Lion FeedsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2026Food Lion and its Food Lion Feeds initiative partnered with Bluefield State to expand the university's campus food pantry, addressing student food insecurity. The partnership includes membership in the College and University Food Bank Alliance and meaningful support from campus and community partners.
• ABET (Technology Accreditation Commission)coreOthersThe associate and baccalaureate degree programs in engineering technology are accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, ensuring programmatic quality meets national standards for engineering technology education.
• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)coreOthersThe business administration program at the W. Paul Cole, Jr. College of Business is fully accredited by ACBSP, demonstrating adherence to quality standards for business education.
• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)coreOthersThe Associate Degree nursing program is accredited by ACEN, with continued accreditation status confirmed by the ACEN Board of Commissioners.
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)coreOthersThe Baccalaureate degree in Nursing program is accredited by CCNE, located at 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Concord University: Public West Virginia university with similar small-institution scale, education and business program emphasis, and shared Appalachian service area demographic challenges.
• Glenville State University: Small public West Virginia institution with overlapping program mix in teacher education, business, and STEM, serving similar rural West Virginia populations.
• Shepherd University: Public West Virginia university with comparable enrollment scale, undergraduate-through-graduate portfolio, and nursing and business program emphasis; competes for similar in-state students.
• University of Virginia's College at Wise: Public Appalachian college in southwest Virginia serving the same geographic corridor as BSU; comparable enrollment scale, liberal arts and pre-professional portfolio, and similar regional workforce-development role.
• University of Pikeville: Private Appalachian regional university in eastern Kentucky offering associate through doctoral programs with strong healthcare and education focus. Comparable mission of workforce development in a similar declining-region context.
• Alderson Broaddus University: West Virginia institution with comparable health sciences and education program emphasis, similar small-enrollment scale, and similar Appalachian service-area constraints.
• Davis & Elkins University: Small private West Virginia university with comparable enrollment scale, undergraduate-through-graduate offerings, and similar regional workforce alignment.

Direct peers

• Fairmont State University: Public West Virginia regional university offering associate through master's degrees with comparable nursing, engineering technology, and education program emphasis; operates at a similar scale and under the same state policy commission.
• West Virginia State University: The other HBCU in West Virginia, sharing public-university status, similar enrollment scale, regional workforce-aligned programs, and HBCU identity. Direct peer for student recruitment, funding, and policy comparison within West Virginia.
• Lincoln University (Pennsylvania): Public HBCU with comparable enrollment size, undergraduate-to-graduate portfolio, and a mission centered on workforce mobility and access. Closely comparable in accreditation profile and student demographics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 University