Bluffton University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Bluffton, Ohio. It enrolls 582 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
58/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes26
Value42
Affordability64
Selectivity36
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 67.2%, Bluffton University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
67.2%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
860 – 1130
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
16 – 22
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Bluffton University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
6.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Bluffton University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $19,943 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$19,943
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
45%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
77%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$37,362
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,220
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,202
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,750
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,895
Total Cost of Attendance
$51,862
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,363
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,689
$48,001 – $75,000
$18,469
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,233
Over $110,000
$26,321
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,70510%percentile
$5,68725%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$28,70075%percentile
$37,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,000
↓ $8,000
No Pell $19,750
↓ $7,250
Dependent students $19,000
↓ $8,000
Independent students $24,750
↓ $2,250
Female students $23,000
↓ $4,000
Male students $14,707
↓ $12,293
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,274, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
49% of full-time students who enrolled at Bluffton University graduate within six years, and 63% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
49%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
63%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Bluffton University earn a median of $49,547 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,547
Earning > $25K
81%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$33,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$50,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$43,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$42,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $17,300, about 34% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
18.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 91% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Bluffton University is home to 582 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 33% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
582
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
33%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 62.5%364
Black 18.9%110
Hispanic 3.4%20
Other 3.4%20
International 1.2%7
Asian 1.0%6
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Bluffton University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: DistantBluffton, Ohio
Housing
Strongly residential780 beds for 582 students
Adult Learners
3%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Bluffton University offers
a varied set of programs:
29 distinct programs across
16 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bluffton University is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$58M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$36,864
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
44 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
15
34%
$45,873
Associate Professors
7
16%
$41,902
Assistant Professors
22
50%
$29,119
Pros & Cons of Bluffton University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Bluffton University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Bluffton University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bluffton University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Bluffton University.
Is Bluffton University hard to get into?
Admissions at Bluffton University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 67.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Bluffton University?
Bluffton University has an acceptance rate of 67.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Bluffton University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bluffton University scored between 860 and 1130 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Bluffton University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bluffton University scored between 16 and 22 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Bluffton University cost?
The average net price after aid at Bluffton University is $19,943 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Bluffton University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,547 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $19,943 per year. That's roughly 2.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Bluffton University known for?
Bluffton University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Kinesiology, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Bluffton University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Bluffton University are $49,547, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Bluffton University accredited?
Yes. Bluffton University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Bluffton University?
Bluffton University enrolls 582 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Bluffton University?
Bluffton University graduates 49% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Bluffton University a public or private college?
Bluffton University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Bluffton University located?
Bluffton University is located in Bluffton, Ohio.
What programs does Bluffton University offer?
Bluffton University offers 29 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Kinesiology, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Bluffton University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bluffton University is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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