BLUEFIELD, VA – For the tenth year in a row, Bluefield University has been awarded an “A” rating from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) for providing an exceptional core curriculum for students. Bluefield University stands alongside only 21 other institutions given the top award out of the 1,135 colleges and universities rated for the 2022-2023 academic year.
“We are grateful to ACTA for awarding the institution this recognition for the decade,” said Bluefield University President Dr. David W. Olive. “The validation of what we already know to be true, and our faculty and staff take pride is encouraging. Students who attend Bluefield University, either on-campus or online, can know they are receiving a high-quality education that allows them to go further in all aspects of their lives.”
ACTA evaluates all regionally accredited, nonprofit institutions as part of its annual report titled “What Will They Learn?” to determine a grading scale. Institutions awarded an “A” rating are celebrated for their focus on their undergraduate curriculum offered in the traditional arts and sciences disciplines. In 2022-2023, 1.9% of U.S. colleges and universities were granted the highest grade. Read the full report here: https://www.goacta.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/What-Will-They-Learn-2022-2023.pdf.
“Awards like these are helpful as we communicate to prospective students and their families how students learn, grow, and become prepared to enter the workforce at BU,” said Karl Hatton, Vice President for Admissions and Student Development. “In a time where the value of higher education, especially one rooted in the liberal arts, is questioned these designations demonstrate the value of a degree from Bluefield University.”
University officials have taken great strides recently to help families understand the value and affordability of receiving an education at Bluefield University. Earlier in the academic year the Commonwealth Connection scholarship was opened to all Virginia students and West Virginia students from McDowell, Mercer, Raleigh, Summers, and Wyoming counties. Beginning with a tuition price cut in half from $27,876 to $13,938, these students can further reduce their tuition bill with assistance from the $4,500 Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) and Pell Grant assistance. The recent announcement of the Tazewell County scholarship for students graduating this spring allows for an additional $2,500 each semester for two years. Bluefield University’s expanding academic degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels alongside partnerships with the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) and Appalachia College of Pharmacy (ACP) and others are creating dedicated pathways to careers for students in many fields.
“We are doing all we can to help students find a pathway to zero tuition,” said Hatton. “What we are communicating to families is to not shut out a private college from your student’s higher education search. We provide a valuable product affirmed by others and affordable tuition options to ensure a student can go further in life without being held back by college debt.”