Bluefield State College

Yes, BSC is online. However, its website remains unclear in terms of which programs are delivered remotely. BSC generally offers degrees in fields such as STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), nursing, education, business, and humanities. 

Employers respect BSC's online degrees because an accredited institution confers them. BSC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This accreditation status means that BSC can prove its financial practices are ethical and its high quality academic programs offer rigor to challenge students. It also means that students can transfer credits from one accredited institution to another. 

OnlineU only includes accredited online colleges and universities on its site.

BSC is known for its rich history and for being an HBCU. 

The Higher Education Act of 1965 identified HBCUs as "…any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans… ." BSC was founded in 1895 as the Bluefield Colored Institute to provide higher education to the children of local African American coal miners. By the middle of the 20th century, it became a cultural hub, hosting poetry readings by Langston Hughes, musical performances by Count Basie and Duke Ellington, and boxing exhibitions with heavyweight champion Joe Lewis. In the later part of the century, BSC hosted poet, educator, and activist Maya Angelou.

College Scorecard data, which is provided by the U.S. Department of Education, shows that BSC's bachelor's degrees in nursing provide the highest earnings for graduates, with a median annual salary of approximately $51,000. However, it's unclear if this degree is available entirely online. 

If you're interested in learning more about other HBCUs, we've identified HBCU majors with high starting salaries for you to explore.

Additionally, OnlineU's proprietary Salary Score ranks colleges by how much their alumni earn compared to graduates with the same degree nationwide. BSC has a relatively low Salary Score of 14 out of 100 for its bachelor's degrees. Its nursing degrees have a Salary Score of 26.

Getting into BSC is relatively easy. According to College Scorecard, it accepts 90% of applicants. Still, BSC does require entrance exams. Students must have a combined SAT score of at least 970 and an ACT composite score of 18 to be considered for enrollment. 

BSC's admission requirements are similar to other colleges and universities. In general, first-year undergraduate admissions for its online degree programs requires the following:

• A free application
• Official high school transcripts or GED with a minimum 2.0 GPA
• Official college transcripts, if transferring credits
• Military transcripts, if applicable
• SAT/ACT scores

Each online bachelor's degree may have additional requirements, such as prerequisite coursework or licensure. Applying to college always requires planning to ensure you have enough time to submit all the requirements. A BSC enrollment advisor can help you through the process to ensure you have what's needed.