Bluffton University
Bluffton, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 67.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 37/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Bluffton University scores 37 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale. The ROI picture is poor on multiple dimensions: a 52.9% completion rate, $35,500 average 6-year earnings, a 15.1-year payback period, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.761. At $37,362 sticker tuition with a $19,943 net price, the school is priced as a private institution but delivering outcomes that do not support the premium. The 44.7% Pell grant rate indicates the school primarily serves lower-income students - a population for whom a 15-year payback is a particularly serious burden. Human Resources Management is the best-performing reported program at $55,253 year-one, but with zero reported graduates it has limited reliability. Business Administration (36 graduates) earns $41,608 year-one and $57,308 at year four (C grade). Kinesiology earns a D with debt-to-earnings of 0.944. The school's Mennonite affiliation may attract students for mission-aligned reasons, but the financial data does not support the cost structure for most students.
How Bluffton University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score37/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period15.1 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Bluffton University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $37,362/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $37,362/yr |
| Average net price | $19,943/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $79,772 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $49,547 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 15.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 52.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 582 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $37,362/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $19,943/year, or roughly $79,772 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $16,363/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,321/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,500) and comes to 0.76, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $16,363 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,689 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,469 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,233 |
| $110,001+ | $26,321 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $16,363 per year - roughly $65,000 over four years. Against average 6-year earnings of $35,500 and a 52.9% completion rate, this is a very high-risk financial commitment for low-income students. The 44.7% Pell rate means the majority of Bluffton students are in this situation.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $18,469 (48001-75000 bracket) to $21,233 (75001-110000 bracket) per year. Four-year costs run $74,000-$85,000, with $35,500 average earnings and a 15.1-year payback.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $26,321 per year - about $105,000 over four years. At full cost against these earnings and completion metrics, the investment case is weak. The only rationale is mission alignment or community fit, not financial return.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Bluffton University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $57,308 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $44,920 | D |
| Teacher Education | $44,290 | - |
| Social Work | $55,073 | - |
| Psychology | $42,742 | - |
| Accounting | $62,315 | - |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $47,378 | C |
| Special Education and Teaching | $41,602 | - |
| Human Resources Management | $76,243 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program with reliable data: 36 graduates, $41,608 year-one, $57,308 at year four (C grade, debt-to-earnings 0.649, median debt $27,000). Year-one earnings are modest and the C grade reflects elevated debt relative to earnings. Four-year trajectory to $57k is limited upside. Business is the most employable pathway at Bluffton.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology (25 graduates) earns $28,602 year-one and $44,920 at year four (D grade, debt-to-earnings 0.944, median debt $27,000). Year-one earnings of $28,602 against $27,000 in debt creates immediate repayment stress.
Social Work
Social Work (14 graduates) shows a four-year earnings figure of $55,073 but no year-one data, debt, or ROI grade (Scorecard does not report debt or 1-year earnings for this program). The four-year figure is above institutional average, which may reflect MSW-track advancement, but without full data the ROI picture is incomplete. Students planning social work should factor the likelihood of graduate school costs into their financial planning.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 73.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Bluffton University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 67.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 430-580 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 430-550 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 16-22 |
| Enrollment | 582 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 44.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,689 |
At 67.2%, Bluffton is moderately accessible with a low academic profile (ACT 16-22, SAT 430-580 Math). The school accepts a broad range of students, and the completion rate of 52.9% suggests that a meaningful share struggle to finish. Students evaluating Bluffton should assess the financial and academic support structures available to them.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluffton University (this school) | 37 | $19,943 | $49,547 |
| Parker University | 39 | $29,135 | $42,091 |
| Peirce College | 38 | $12,148 | $50,660 |
| LaGrange College | 37 | $20,875 | $51,745 |
| Allegheny Wesleyan College | 29 | $5,355 | $37,453 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati | 9 | $34,253 | $34,368 |
Who Thrives Here
Bluffton admits 67.2% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 430-580 Math and 430-550 Reading (ACT 16-22). Enrollment is 582 - a very small institution. The 44.7% Pell grant rate is high. Bluffton is a Mennonite-affiliated institution in rural northwest Ohio, primarily serving students from a regional faith community. The 52.9% completion rate and weak earnings data suggest that many students face significant challenges turning the degree into financial return. Students choosing Bluffton for faith or community reasons should carefully assess financial implications.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Bluffton University scores 37/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $19,943 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $49,547 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 15.1 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a long payback period.
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Bluffton University: Common Questions
Is Bluffton University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Bluffton University scores 37/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $19,943 a year after aid against $49,547 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 15.1 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Bluffton University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $19,943 a year, or roughly $79,772 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Bluffton University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $49,547 ten years after enrolling, roughly $7,747 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Bluffton University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 15.1 years for Bluffton University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Bluffton University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $35,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Bluffton University?
The six-year graduation rate is 52.9%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.