Fast Facts
Established in 1839 as a literary academy, Bloomsburg University is a comprehensive public institution offering 57 undergraduate degree programs and more than 66 minors along with 19 graduate degree programs, including a doctorate in audiology and in nursing practice.
3rd largest school of the 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
75 miles north of Harrisburg and 137 miles west of Philadelphia
73 buildings on two campuses across 366 acres in Columbia County
Lower campus includes eight residence halls, eight academic buildings, a student union, a student services center, an administration building and a four-story library
Upper campus includes three student apartment complexes, athletic facilities to include gymnasium field house, multipurpose sports field and football stadium, as well as adventure property featuring a 50-foot climbing wall and high ropes course
A satellite location in State System at Center City, Philadelphia, offers a master’s in business administration (M.B.A.), as well as a bachelor’s of applied science in technical leadership.
Bloomsburg University offers for-credit classes and degree completion programs at the Dixon University Center and partners with Bucks Community College, Harrisburg Area Community College, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Luzerne County Community College, Northampton Community College, and Reading Area Community College.
Awards and Recognition
BU has earned the title of Military Friendly School from Victory Media, publisher of GI Jobs magazine.
BU once again made the list of top universities in the northern region of the country, according to U.S. News and World Report’s annual rankings.
BU has begun baseline concussion screening of student-athletes this summer after being selected to join the NCAA Department of Defense Concussion Assessment, Research and Education Consortium.
BU's nursing program has been rated first in the commonwealth and 60th in the nation by CollegeAtlas.org.
BU named among the top North American schools in the 2017 Sales Education Foundation’s (SEF) listing of the best universities offering professional sales education.
BU’s digital forensics program has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.
PA Secretary of Banking and Securities Robin L. Wiessmann praised students for being the first to represent Pennsylvania in the national Community Bank Case Study Competition.
Carnegie Classification - awarded for demonstrating an institutional commitment to volunteerism and community involvement. Institutions participate voluntarily by showing that civic engagement is integrated into their mission and supported by the institution
Enrollment
8,253 Undergraduate Students
671 Graduate Students
8,924 Total Students
16.1% Underrepresented Minority (URM)
Geographical Background
2018-19 Admissions:
Freshman Completed Applications: 8,749
Acceptance Rate: 76.8%
Traditional Admit Freshmen:
Mean SAT 1,088, Mean GPA 3.40, Median Class Rank 38.2%
All Freshmen, including Provisional:
Mean SAT 1,067, Mean GPA 3.31, Median Class Rank 41.6%
First Generation Freshmen: 30.1%
Underrepresented Minority (URM) Freshmen: 15.0%
Retention
Degrees Awarded (2017-18):
1,821 Bachelor’s
6 Postbachelor’s Certificates
247 Master’s
15 Doctorates
Freshman‐to‐Sophomore Retention: 72.2%
Graduation Rates
4‐Year: 37.5%; 5‐Year: 56.4%; 6‐Year: 59.6%
Faculty
Student-Faculty Ratio: 19:1
Average Class Size of Organized Class Sections: 29
Faculty with Terminal Degree: 93% (Tenured/Tenure Track)
Faculty Hired, 2017‐18: 10 (Tenure Track)
No. of Tenured/Tenure Track Faculty: 364
Total Number of Faculty: 530 (includes part‐time)
Academic Opportunities
Undergraduate Approved Degree Programs: 57
Undergraduate Minors: 66
Graduate Approved Degree Programs: 19
Subbaccalaureate Certificates: 9
Postbaccalaureate Certificates: 5
Budget
Total Estimated Annual Budget: $153.3 million (2018-19)
Regional Economic Impact: $350.3 million bloomu.edu/econ
Budgeted FTE Employees: 1,048
Operating Expenditure per Student: $18,166 (2018-19)
Instruction and Department Research Expenditures as % of Total Operating Budget: 47.9%
Scholarships and Support
Full‐Time Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid: 89%
Number of Scholarship Awards: All sources 2,165; BU only 1,271
Value of Scholarship Awards: All sources $4,782,462; BU only $2,442,582
Total Financial Aid Awards (all sources): $127,731,357
Alumni
Alumni of Record: 69,404
Alumni Employed Within Year of Graduation: 79%
Alumni Enrolled in Graduate School Within Year of Graduation: 20%
Student Volunteerism
Total Estimated Hours: 73,560
Estimated Value of Service: $1.721 million
Federal Off‐Campus Community Service (Work‐Study): 5,015 hours, $36,358
Facilities and Housing
Main Campus: 366 acres
Instructional and Support Buildings: 73
On‐Campus Housing: 8 Residence Halls, 3 Apartment Complexes
On‐Campus Capacity: 3,668
% of Students Living in College‐Owned, Operated or Affiliated Housing: 42%
% of Students with Meal Plans: 51%
Flex‐ Only 5%
Technology
Computers in Labs: 1,571
Student-Computer Ratio: 6 to 1
Electronic Classrooms: 200
Internet Bandwidth: 20Gb
Wireless: 1890 Wireless Access Points
Athletics
Bloomsburg University sponsors 21 intercollegiate men’s and women’s sports with over 500 student-athletes who compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference with the exception of men’s wrestling, which competes at the NCAA Division I level.
National Champions
Field Hockey (16) – 1981, 83, 84, 87, 93, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2002, 03, 04, 06, 07, 08, 09 (NCAA)
Softball (1) – 1982 (AIAW)
Wrestling (3) – 1960, 62, 65 (NAIA)
There are 15 recognized club sports to include Ultimate Frisbee, equestrian, ice hockey and lacrosse. Intramural sports at varying competitive levels are also offered, such as bubble soccer, flag football and sand volleyball.
