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| Overall Score On StateUniversity.com (about) | 87.5 |
| Total CostOn-Campus Attendance | $19,400 |
| AdmissionSuccess rate | 59% |
| SAT75 %ile scores | 1120 |
| Student RatioRatio of students to faculty | 22 : 1 |
| Retention(Full-Time / Part-Time) | 81% / 67% |
| EnrollmentTotal (all students) | 9,512 |
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Bloomsburg University (BU) is a comprehensive four-year institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the liberal arts and sciences as well as professional fields. It offers more than 50 undergraduate degree programs and 20 graduate programs. BU serves nearly 12,000 students in Columbia County with a 282-acre campus and 54 academic, residential, and administrative buildings.
BU began as an academy for classical education in 1839 in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. It became the Bloomsburg Literary Institute in 1856 and the Bloomsburg Literary Institute and State Normal School in 1869. Up until the early 1920s, the Normal School emphasized secondary and college preparatory courses for special teachers. At this time, however, the school began to focus more exclusively on full-time teacher education, again adopting a new name of Bloomsburg State Teachers College. In 1927, the College earned accreditation to grant Bachelor of Science in Education degrees.
The school began to expand its focus when it added a degree in business education and later a U.S. Navy V-12 Officer Training Program. A Division of Special Education was added in 1957.
By 1960, the school had greatly expanded its facilities, faculty, and student enrollment, and in that year it changed its name to Bloomsburg State College. It began awarding Bachelor of Arts degrees for students of the humanities, sciences, and mathematics. Graduate programs in education and a doctoral program in clinical audiology were established in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Today, the University is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, formed in 1983. Its president was the System’s first chancellor. The school continues to grow and expand as a member of the State System, adding new programs, facilities, and activities that complement its current offerings.
Bloomsburg University offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in a number of different fields. There are 54 undergraduate degree programs with 45 minors. Graduate can choose from 19 master’s programs or pursue a doctorate in audiology.
BU’s classes are organized into four colleges: the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Business, the College of Education, and the College of Science and Technology. Students are encouraged to take courses that interest them and lead to successful and fulfilling careers. Students can personalize their degree programs by majoring in one subject and minoring or concentrating in another related or separate subject.
Students are also encouraged to enhance their education through internship programs in their chosen industries. Internships are excellent ways for students to gain real-world, hands-on experience in their future jobs while earning credit for school. Internship programs can also help students narrow down their career focus or discover a new industry. The internship website and office on-campus will help students seek out and apply for relevant internships in a wide range of industries.
The Honors Program at BU is for exceptional students who demonstrate particularly high academic ability and potential. Honors students enjoy smaller class sizes, closer relationships with professors, the opportunity to participate in independent study or field trips, and more. To apply for the Honors program, students should have a combined SAT score of at least 1730 and have ranked in the top 20% of their graduating class. Students can apply online by filling out an application form and including a short essay, a creative work sample, a copy of a high school transcript, and a letter of recommendation.
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Bloomsburg University is a competitive admissions institution, meaning that not every applicant is guaranteed a spot in the university. BU’s acceptance rate is slightly lower than 30%. Students who are interested in attending BU should demonstrate a good academic record, personal character, and extracurricular activities.
Students seeking financial aid should begin by completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which is available online at fafsa.gov. The FAFSA is the standard form that determines eligibility for federal aid in the form of student loans, work-study programs, and grants. It is also frequently required as a supplementary material for third-party loans and scholarship applications. Nearly 80% of full-time students receive financial aid of some kind.
Students can also apply for merit-based scholarships through third-party sponsors and BU itself. BU offers more than 500 scholarship opportunities for its students, and these competitions are often sponsored by individuals or departments. Students should visit the Scholarships page of the Financial Aid page for information about the different scholarship eligibility requirements and application procedures.
| Effective as of 2010-09-21 | |
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Bloomsburg enrolls nearly 12,000 students with a variety of backgrounds and interests. Nearly 50% of students live in on-campus housing and participate in the dining hall meal plan program. Living on campus makes it easy for students to get involved in campus activities, meet new people, walk to classrooms and dining halls, or participate in hall events. On-campus residents can also take advantage of BU’s maintenance and cleaning staff and have access to extensive housing and facilities support services. The campus is 100% wireless, so on-campus residents will have access to email and the internet at all times through their laptops, smartphones, and computers.
There are hundreds of ways to get involved in BU campus life. Bloomsburg students have volunteered more than 60,000 hours to local and national community service organizations and projects.
Students have access to the extent of the BU campus. The lower campus is home to academic buildings, residence halls, a library, and student services. The upper campus houses three apartment complexes, athletic facilities, and a unique outdoor adventure complex with a climbing wall and a ropes course. Students can sign up to use these special facilities with a class or in a group at any time.
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The faculty at BU are chosen for their interest in teaching college-level students and their expertise in academic and professional fields. Of the 373 tenured and tenure-track faculty, more than 90% have earned doctoral degrees or another terminal degree in their field. The student-to-faculty ratiois 22:1, so students will enjoy small class sizes and a higher level of faculty interaction than they would at a larger school. The median class size is 33.
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| Surrounding community | Distant town (between 10 to 35 mi. away from an urban cluster) | ||||
| Total Population | 28,313 (19,806 urban / 8,507 rural) | ||||
| Households | 10,359 (2.43 people per house) | ||||
| Median Household Income | $35,291 | ||||
| Families | 6,475 (2.89 people per family) | ||||
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hjhildo ((at)) aol dot com
My daughter was in the ACE program. It is a wonderful program. I wish my niece, who is a senior this year, could have been in the program, but she told me that she was not allowed by the school. She has all the qualifications that I am aware of. Has the program changed or is it only the Northwest High School that has changed their policy? Kelsi is a very good student and very mature. I wish she also had the opportunity as Elizabeth did as a mature, young woman. Thank you to BU for all you did for my daughter. She had a wonderful experience.