by our College Data Analytics TeamHere you will find what students actually borrow to attend Bluefield State University, including completion-adjusted borrowing and a standard repayment estimate. The data below is drawn directly from federal sources.
At Bluefield State College, 71% of freshmen borrow to help pay for their first year, with a typical loan of $6,652 apiece. This figure includes both private and federally funded student loans.
On the federal side, the average loan is $6,677. That is at or past the $5,500 federal first-year limit for the typical dependent freshman. Keep in mind the all-undergraduate averages further down count federal loans only, unlike this private-plus-federal freshman figure.
Among all degree-seeking undergrads at Bluefield State College, 55% rely on federal student loans toward their education, at an average of $7,595 each per year. It comes to 13.7% more than the $6,677 typical freshmen borrow.
Borrowing the same amount each year would add up to roughly $15,190 by year two and around $30,380 over four years. This assumes steady federal borrowing and leaves out private and Parent PLUS loans.
| Undergraduate federal borrowing | Value |
|---|---|
| Share using federal loans | 55% |
| Average federal loan per year | $7,595 |
| Undergraduates with a federal loan | 687 |
| Total federal loans (one year) | $5,218,074 |
Graduating and withdrawing students at Bluefield State College carry a median federal debt of $12,038 in federal borrowing.
| Borrower group | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| All federal borrowers | $12,038 |
| Students who completed (graduates) | $18,250 |
| Students who withdrew | $9,444 |
The figure for students who withdrew is worth watching: debt without a completed credential is the hardest to repay.
The median hides the spread, so the percentiles below show cumulative federal debt at four points in the distribution for Bluefield State College.
| Percentile | Cumulative Federal Debt |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (lowest-debt students) | $2,750 |
| 25th percentile | $5,500 |
| 75th percentile | $23,470 |
| 90th percentile (highest-debt students) | $37,563 |
The spread between the lowest- and highest-debt deciles summarizes how variable outcomes are at Bluefield State College.
Median federal debt understates the full cost when PLUS loans are included. The totals below add PLUS borrowing for Bluefield State College.
| Group | Borrowers | Median debt incl. PLUS |
|---|---|---|
| All borrowers | 76 | $7,812 |
| Completed (graduates) | 24 | $7,550 |
| Did not complete | 52 | $7,812 |
Completers face an estimated standard 10-year monthly payment on their PLUS-inclusive debt of roughly $89.78/mo.
The split below distinguishes Stafford borrowers from non-Stafford borrowers at Bluefield State College.
Borrowers With a Stafford Loan This Year
| Cohort | Borrowers | Median debt incl. PLUS |
|---|---|---|
| Stafford loan this year | 63 | — |
| No Stafford loan this year | 13 | — |
Repayment burden translates the debt figures into what a borrower actually pays each month. Bluefield State College.
A loan default — failing to keep up with federal student-loan payments — is one of the worst financial outcomes a borrower can face. The federal two-year cohort default rate for Bluefield State College follows.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| 2-year cohort default rate | 21.7% |
| Borrowers in the cohort | 663 |
The cohort default rate tracks borrowers who entered repayment in a given year and defaulted within the two-year measurement window.
The breakdowns below show median federal debt by income, first-generation status, and dependency.
Borrowing by Income Tier
| Income tier | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| Low income | $12,125 |
| Middle income | $13,000 |
| High income | $11,000 |
First-Generation Comparison
| Cohort | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| First-generation students | $12,100 |
| Continuing-generation students | $11,000 |
Dependency-Status Comparison
| Cohort | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| Dependent students | $9,820 |
| Independent students | $15,750 |
The Department of Education computes gap indicators that show how borrowing differs between student groups at Bluefield State College.
The Difference Between Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
With an unsubsidized loan, interest starts adding up the day the loan is disbursed, including during school. Subsidized loans, by contrast, do not accrue interest while you are enrolled at least half-time, which makes them the less expensive option when you qualify.
Important to Remember
Federal student loans are not discharged in bankruptcy in all but the rarest cases, and the government can withhold part of your income or tax refund if you default.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.