Accreditations and recognitions
Bluffton at a glance
Enrollment:
493 undergraduate students and 72 students in graduate programs. The average incoming
student has a 3.2 high school GPA (in 2025-26).
Academics:
Bluffton offers academic study in more than 90 academic programs; and master’s degrees in business administration (MBA), education (MAEd), social work (MSW) and nutrition
and dietetics (MND).
Tuition and fees:
Undergraduate tuition and fees, room and board for 2026-27: $52,954. If you are serious
about attending Bluffton where discovery, community, respect and service come together
to form a truly unique educational experience we have financial aid programs in place
to make sure that Bluffton University is affordable for you.
Accreditation and affiliations:
Bluffton University holds a certificate of authorization from the Ohio Board of Regents
to confer the degrees of bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, master of arts in
education, master of business administration, master of social work and master of
nutrition and dietetics.
Bluffton University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, a member of the North Central Association, www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org, 312-263-0456.
Athletics:
A member of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, Bluffton student-athletes
compete on 18 NCAA DIII men’s and women’s athletic teams.
National Center for Education Statistics
2025-26
| Total headcount enrollment | 566 |
| Undergraduate FTE (full-time equivalent): | 482 |
| Total graduate enrollment | 73 |
| Graduate FTE: | 71 |
| Full-time, traditional enrollment | 475 |
| Residential students | 77% |
| First-year class: | 160 |
| Entering first-year student average GPA | 3.2 |
| Entering first-year student average ACT NOTE: Bluffton University is test-flexible. Honor roll students may be admitted without an ACT score. |
19 |
| Students in top 10% of high school class: | 8% |
| Students in top 25% of high school class: | 21% |
| First to second year retention rate | 55% |
| Graduation rate (6 year): | 50% |
| Full-time faculty (with terminal degree): | 41 (26) |
| Student/faculty ratio: | 10:1 |
| Tuition: (12-17 hours/semester) | $36,790 |
| Room and board: (15-meal plan) | $12,964 |
| Endowment market value: (as of June 30, 2024) | $29,353,571 |
outcome statistics
2023 Graduation outcomes and first destination success
94% of responding 2023 graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation.
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- 90% Employed
- 4% Graduate school
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Starting their careers
Of the responding 2023 graduates in full-time employment:
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- 90% described their Bluffton degree as necessary or helpful in obtaining their current position
- 75% indicated that their current position holds some or definite long term potential
- 85% report that their job search took less than three months
- 85% agreed or strongly agreed that their major coursework prepared them for a career or graduate study in their chosen field
- 73% agreed or strongly agreed that the general education curriculum provided preparation for life, career or graduate studies
Continuing their education
Of the responding 2023 graduates continuing their education, 100% were pursuing a master’s degree.