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Bluffton University

Bluffton, Ohio · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Rural

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At a glance

Average net price
$19,943What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
67%
Graduation rate
51%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
582
In-state tuition
$37,362Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$37,362
SAT midpoint
Not reported
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$49,547Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$19,943

Better than 67% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

51%

Better than 36% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$49,547

Better than 36% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$27,000

Better than 4% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$51,862

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$19,943

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Bluffton University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time51%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return60%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$27,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$49,547

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Bluffton University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Human Resources Management and Services$55,253Not reported
Business Administration, Management and Operations$41,60836
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$28,60225
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsNot reported16
Social WorkNot reported14
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsNot reported12
MarketingNot reported11
Psychology, GeneralNot reported10
MathematicsNot reported9
Health/Medical Preparatory ProgramsNot reported8
Accounting and Related ServicesNot reported7
Biology, GeneralNot reported7
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingNot reported5
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesNot reported5
Communication and Media StudiesNot reported5
Foods, Nutrition, and Related ServicesNot reported5
Special Education and TeachingNot reported4
Design and Applied ArtsNot reported3
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported3
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNot reported3
Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationNot reported2
HistoryNot reported2
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesNot reported2
EconomicsNot reported2
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reported1
PhysicsNot reported1
SociologyNot reported1
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign LanguageNot reportedNot reported
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reportedNot reported
ChemistryNot reportedNot reported
MusicNot reportedNot reported
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Public HealthNot reportedNot reported
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Bible/Biblical StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsNot reportedNot reported
JournalismNot reportedNot reported
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationNot reportedNot reported
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Social Sciences, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied ProfessionsNot reportedNot reported
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized MinistriesNot reportedNot reported
Visual and Performing Arts, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralNot reportedNot reported

All 45 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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