Bluefield State University vs Davis & Elkins College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Davis & Elkins College comes closer — median earnings $43,411 against a $73,092 total, vs $38,217 at Bluefield State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bluefield State University | Davis & Elkins College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,684 | $18,273 |
| Total net cost | $54,736 | $73,092 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,217 | $43,411 |
| Median debt | $18,250 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$257,596 | -$172,072 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bluefield State University or Davis & Elkins College?
Bluefield State University, at $13,684 a year after aid versus $18,273 — a gap of $4,589 a year, or $18,356 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Bluefield State University or Davis & Elkins College graduates earn more?
Davis & Elkins College graduates report a median $43,411 ten years after entry, $5,194 more than the $38,217 at Bluefield State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Bluefield State University or Davis & Elkins College?
Bluefield State University: its completers carry a median $18,250 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Davis & Elkins College, a difference of $8,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
39% of students finish at Davis & Elkins College, against 37% at Bluefield State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.