Bluefield State University (BSC)

West Virginia’s Bluefield State College is all about providing an affordable, accessible education to its undergraduates, regardless of where they come from. At its core, the school looks to uphold a standard of excellence in both teaching and research, while also promoting diversity and service to the community. There are several degrees offered across four different schools, including the popular School of Nursing & Allied Health, the School of Business (the third business school in West Virginia to attain national accreditation), and the STEM school, which has four engineering degrees available: Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, and Management. The low cost of tuition has always been a huge draw for residents of the region, and the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan further reduces costs for qualifying state residents who enroll in selected high-skill, high-demand programs or the Bluefield State Honors College. All students can access the resources available through the Academic Success Center, which include tutoring, mentoring, workshops, and computer lab access.

A significant number of students graduate with Nursing and Criminal Justice Administration degrees, and the school is one of only two colleges or universities offering STEM curricula in West Virginia, with a near 100% job placement rate for those graduates. Bluefield State takes part in the federal program Student Educational Employment, which provides public service jobs to students while they’re in school, either as temporary employment or as a student career experience (related to the student’s study).

Notable alumni include West Virginia politicians George Ambler and Jeff Mullins, and noted American suffragist Lethia Cousins Fleming.