Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Bluffton University #1310 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,605 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Bluffton University in the 14.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Bluffton University #1287 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Bluffton University #1310 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Bluffton, Ohio, Bluffton University enrolls roughly 582 undergraduates. Retention is 59.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 52.9%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional institution. Where Bluffton University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Bluffton University #1287 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,605 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Bluffton University in the 14.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's concentration in Business and related fields aligns with stable, in-demand career pathways that support long-term financial outcomes. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Bluffton University sits in the 49.6 percentile for access and the 29.7 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a smaller private institution, Bluffton's enrollment scale and pricing structure reflect the economics of independent higher education, where tuition is reshaped by institutional aid for families that qualify. Mobility sits in the 15.0 percentile, indicating moderate outcomes for low-income student advancement relative to peer institutions.
Bluffton University's published cost of attendance is $51,862. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $16,363, middle-income families pay around $18,469, and higher-income families pay approximately $26,321. Azimuth ranks Bluffton University #1002 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Bluffton University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the institution works to close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay through a combination of grants and scholarships. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the net price outcomes students and families experience after aid is applied. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $43,100; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $49,053, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Bluffton University is a strong fit for students seeking a small private university experience in OH with a focus on Business and related applied fields. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $49,053, placing Bluffton University in the 9.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $12,605 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 14.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves a mix of traditional and first-generation students — 44.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 32.7% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $26,321, with typical federal student loan debt at graduation of $27,000. Fit depends on program alignment — Business represents 41% of degrees, creating strong outcomes for students interested in those fields. The Midwest location offers proximity to regional employers while maintaining a residential campus experience.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Bluffton University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Bluffton University's published cost of attendance is $51,862. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $16,363, middle-income families pay around $18,469, and higher-income families pay approximately $26,321.
Azimuth ranks Bluffton University #1002 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Bluffton University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the institution works to close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay through a combination of grants and scholarships.
The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the net price outcomes students and families experience after aid is applied. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $43,100; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $49,053, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Human Resources Management and Services
7 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
15 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
26 graduates
Social Work
7 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
14 graduates
Bluffton University's program mix centers on Business, reflecting the institution's applied-professional identity as a private liberal arts university. Business Administration is the largest program with 26 graduates, followed by Accounting, Kinesiology, Special Education and Teaching, and Digital Marketing.
Across 10 programs serving roughly 107 students annually, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering solid four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor markets. The earnings pattern reflects Bluffton University's strength in applied business and professional fields.
Human Resources Management and Services leads with median earnings of $76,243 four years after enrollment across 7 graduates, followed by Accounting with $62,315 and Business Administration with $57,308. Social Work and Kinesiology round out the highest-earning programs, each delivering competitive outcomes for graduates entering regional professional and business sectors.
The concentration of strength in Business and related applied fields aligns with the institution's positioning as a career-focused private university. Several of these programs represent high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect regional labor-market outcomes.
Bluffton University's program portfolio supports students seeking practical preparation for business, accounting, management, and related professional roles. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these applied-professional fields align with regional hiring patterns and wage trends in Ohio and surrounding markets.
Graduates of Bluffton University earn median 4-year earnings of $49,053, placing Bluffton University in the 9.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,605 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Bluffton University in the 14.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Bluffton University #1287 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern centers on Business and professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 26 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $57,308, performing at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. The Accounting program graduates 15 students earning $62,315, while Kinesiology and Special Education and Teaching round out the core program portfolio with 14 and 11 graduates respectively.
These programs reflect Bluffton University's focus on career-ready fields that connect directly to regional and national labor markets.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Wright State University-Main Campus Higher acceptance rate (34 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 78 miles away; similar graduate earnings | OH | 95% | $49,500 | Compare |
Mount Vernon Nazarene University Higher acceptance rate (23.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 83 miles away; similar graduate earnings | OH | 84% | $49,555 | Compare |
University Of Toledo Higher acceptance rate (33.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 55 miles away; similar graduate earnings | OH | 95% | $50,632 | Compare |
Notre Dame College Higher acceptance rate (19.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | OH | 80% | $49,737 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-Superior Higher acceptance rate (32.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | WI | 94% | $49,606 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Willamette University Similar quality tier (#36076 ranked) | OR | 77% | $56,911 | #36076 | Compare |
North Central University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#36074 ranked) | MN | 99% | $45,064 | #36074 | Compare |
Edp University Of Puerto Rico-Humacao Similar quality tier (#36077 ranked) | PR | 60% | $22,844 | #36077 | Compare |
Hiram College Similar quality tier in Midwest (#36078 ranked) | OH | 94% | $54,311 | #36078 | Compare |
Lancaster Bible College Similar quality tier (#36067 ranked) | PA | 56% | $44,096 | #36067 | Compare |
