Head-to-head comparison
Bluefield State University vs Davis & Elkins College: which has better ROI?
Option A Bluefield, WV
Bluefield State University
- Net price / year
- $13,684
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,217
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Elkins, WV
Davis & Elkins College
- Net price / year
- $18,273
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,411
- Payback
- No payback
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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.