Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania College Portrait
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania400 East Second Street Bloomsburg, PA 17815
570-389-4316
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Building on a rich history of academic excellence as one of 14 public universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, Bloomsburg University prepares and inspires students to become dynamic and confident leaders.
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, a public, four-year institution, is one of 14 members of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Founded in 1839 as the Bloomsburg Literary Institute, the university currently enrolls over 9,200 undergraduate students in the Colleges of Education, Business, Liberal Arts and Science and Technology and approximately 750 graduate students in upper-level programs, including a doctoral program in clinical audiology. Eighty-eight percent of the university's students are Pennsylvania residents and approximately 8 percent hail from neighboring New Jersey. Popular undergraduate majors are accounting, biology and allied health sciences, communication studies, criminal justice, early childhood & adolescent education, management, marketing, nursing, psychology, special education.
Living in the Huskies Community
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is located in Columbia County, about a mile south of Interstate 80. As the university on the hill, BU overlooks the Town of Bloomsburg and is situated a few hundred yards from the community's business district and local hospital.
Bloomsburg University offers a wide array of student activities and programs, modern residence halls, a well-equipped Student Recreation Center and restaurant-quality dining, including a Subway and two Starbucks locations. The university has 18 intercollegiate athletic programs, more than 200 organizations to provide opportunities for leadership and growth and 12 Living Learning Communities that bring together students with common academic interests who live in the same residence hall, participate in activities and enroll in a cluster of related courses. The university actively supports an atmosphere of civic engagement, encouraging students to get involved through political and volunteer activities. More than 750 companies, organizations and agencies provide academic internships to Bloomsburg students. Students also may take advantage of support offerings provided through Academic Advisement, Accommodative Services, Act 101/Educational Opportunity Program, Developmental Instruction, Student Support Services, University Tutorial Services and other programs.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2012?
More Information
| Total Students | 9,950 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 9,201 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 5,206 | 57% |
| Men | 3,995 | 43% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 7 | <1% |
| Asian | 78 | 1% |
| African American / Black | 681 | 7% |
| Hispanic | 370 | 4% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 6 | <1% |
| White | 7,516 | 82% |
| Two or More Races | 145 | 2% |
| International | 154 | 2% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 244 | 3% |
| Where do BU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 88% |
| Other US States & Territories | 11% |
| Other Countries | 2% |
| How old are BU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 21 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 4% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2012)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 19 - 23 | |
| Math | 460 - 550 | |
| Critical Reading | 440 - 530 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 28% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 68% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 75% | |
| Average High School GPA Data Not Available | ||
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $21,732
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- <1% of full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $0. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- <1% of full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $0. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2011 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
BU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 21 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 56% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 93% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 414 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 43% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 13% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 80% |
More Information
Campus-based Housing
89% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
42% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
Bloomsburg University is located adjacent to the Town of Bloomsburg, a community with 14,855 full-time residents. The safety of the small community extends to the well-lighted campus where security measures include an emergency message notification system (e-mail, phone and text message), emergency call boxes and continuous patrolling by the university's 18 commissioned police officers who work closely with the professional town police force. Entrance to all residence halls is by card-access only and, for extra security, classrooms may be locked from inside.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Master's Colleges and Universities (larger programs)
- Size and Setting
- Medium four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- Very high undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, selective, lower transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Balanced arts & sciences/professions, some graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Postbaccalaureate with arts & sciences (education dominant)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
Student Activities and Involvement at BU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Bloomsburg University offers students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. BU measures the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful. The National Survey of Student Engagement (web survey) included all freshmen and seniors enrolled in Spring 2012 with a response rate of 20 percent. With regard to active learning reported by First Year students, 54% frequently discuss readings or ideas from coursework outside of class; 47% frequently work with other students on projects in class, 42% work with peers on assignments outside of class, 25% make frequent presentations in class; and 10% frequently participate in service-learning or community-based projects during a given year. With regard to active learning reported by seniors, 61% have participated in some form of practicum, internship, field experience, co-op, or clinical assignment and 28% frequently assist their fellow students by tutoring or teaching.
When surveyed about enriching educational experiences at Bloomsburg University during the First Year, 14% of students participate in a learning community, 46% say they frequently have serious conversations with students who are different from themselves in terms of their religious, political, or personal beliefs, 44% frequently have serious conversations with those of a different race, 22% frequently engage in spiritually enhancing activities such as worship, meditation, or prayer. By their senior year, 14% of students have taken an independent study class, 8% have studied abroad, and 65% have participated in community service or volunteer work.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 96.0% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 55.0% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 34.0% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 85.0% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 19.0% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 61.0% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 65.0% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 8.0% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 99.0% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 97.0% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 73.0% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 62.0% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 96.0% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 51.0% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 80.0% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 95.0% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 74.0% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 62.0% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 89.0% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 43.0% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 81.0% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 87.0% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 84.0% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in 2011-12 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 1,667 |
| Master's | 374 |
| Doctoral | 10 |
| Total | 2,051 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2011-12 | |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | 16% |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | 9% |
| Special Education and Teaching. | 5% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | 5% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | 4% |
| Links to degree programs at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 88% four-year success and progress rate means that 88% of students starting in Fall 2006 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
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Counts for the Fall 2006 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 1,631 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 380 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2011 that returned for their second year: 78%