BLUEFIELD, Va. – One year after reaching one of the strongest enrollment levels in its recent history, Bluefield University has set a new mark.
The university has grown beyond last year’s record and now serves more than 1,600 unique students during the 2025-26 academic year, driven by gains in online education, dual enrollment, graduate health sciences, and traditional undergraduate programs.
The increase marks another step in the university’s continued expansion as Bluefield works to reach more students through flexible academic programs, regional partnerships, and career-focused pathways.
“Our mission has always been to meet students where they are and help them achieve their educational goals,” said Dr. Steve Peterson, President of Bluefield University. “Whether that is a traditional residential student, a working adult seeking to complete a degree, a high school student earning college credit through dual enrollment, or a graduate student preparing for a healthcare career, we are seeing more students choose Bluefield University because of the opportunities we provide.”
One of the university’s strongest areas of growth continues to be online education. Designed to serve working adults and non-traditional students, Bluefield’s online programs have experienced substantial enrollment growth, particularly in business and education programs.
“Today’s adult students need flexibility without sacrificing quality,” said Harrison Rice, Bluefield’s AVP for Online Enrollment and Admissions. “Our online programs enable students to earn their degree and pursue new opportunities while balancing work, family, and other responsibilities. The growth we are experiencing reflects the demand for accessible, high-quality Christian higher education.”
The university has also seen continued expansion of its dual-enrollment partnerships, providing high school students with opportunities to begin earning college credit while completing their secondary education. These programs not only help students accelerate their academic journey but also strengthen relationships between Bluefield University and communities throughout the region.
While maintaining enrollment stability in a challenging national higher-education environment, the university has also seen improvements in the academic profile and preparedness of incoming traditional students.
“We are encouraged not only by the number of students enrolling at Bluefield University but by the quality of students who are choosing us,” said Travis Roberts, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing. “We are attracting students who are academically prepared, highly engaged, and committed to making the most of their college experience.”
Another area of continued success is the university’s partnership with Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM). Bluefield’s graduate health sciences programs, delivered in partnership with VCOM, continue to experience strong enrollment demand and prepare graduates to meet critical workforce needs in healthcare and related fields.
The university’s enrollment growth reflects a broader strategic vision focused on academic innovation, student success, workforce development, and the expansion of access to higher education.
As Bluefield University looks toward the future, university leaders remain focused on building on this momentum through new academic offerings, expanded partnerships, and continued investment in student success initiatives.
“We are seeing the results of a university moving forward with purpose,” President Peterson said. “The momentum we are experiencing is not the result of any single program or initiative. It is the collective effort of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters who believe in Bluefield University’s mission. We are excited about where we are today and even more excited about where we are headed.”