Bridgewater State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. It enrolls 7,829 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
69/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes44
Value75
Affordability58
Selectivity39
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 87.8%, Bridgewater State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
87.8%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1060 – 1263
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
25 – 30
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Bridgewater State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
1.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Bridgewater State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,383 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,383
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
32%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
75%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$11,808
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$17,948
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,247
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,247
Books & Supplies
$2,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,845
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,600
Total Cost of Attendance
$26,160
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,007
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,579
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,559
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,904
Over $110,000
$21,176
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,75010%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$24,286Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$31,25090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,000
↓ $4,286
No Pell $15,750
↓ $8,536
Dependent students $18,250
↓ $6,036
Independent students $20,733
↓ $3,553
Female students $19,000
↓ $5,286
Male students $17,500
↓ $6,786
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,760, less than completers ($24,286), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
63% of full-time students who enrolled at Bridgewater State University graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
63%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
76%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Bridgewater State University earn a median of $57,466 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$57,466
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$42,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$54,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$46,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,200, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
13.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 83% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Bridgewater State University is home to 7,829 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 34% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
7,829
Part-Time
15%
First-Generation
34%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 67.4%5,276
Hispanic 11.0%860
Black 10.6%829
Other 7.5%590
Asian 2.4%184
International 0.7%52
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Bridgewater State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbBridgewater, Massachusetts
Housing
Mostly residential3,301 beds on campus
Adult Learners
13%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Bridgewater State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
65 distinct programs across
21 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bridgewater State University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$11,981
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$68M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$93,766
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
331 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
156
47%
$108,833
Associate Professors
104
31%
$87,238
Assistant Professors
61
18%
$73,014
Instructors
10
3%
$53,175
Pros & Cons of Bridgewater State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Bridgewater State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Modest first-year retention
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Bridgewater State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bridgewater State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Bridgewater State University.
Is Bridgewater State University hard to get into?
Bridgewater State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 87.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at Bridgewater State University?
Bridgewater State University has an acceptance rate of 87.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Bridgewater State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bridgewater State University scored between 1060 and 1263 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Bridgewater State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bridgewater State University scored between 25 and 30 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Bridgewater State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Bridgewater State University is $16,383 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Bridgewater State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $57,466 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,383 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Bridgewater State University known for?
Bridgewater State University is best known for its programs in Psychology, Criminal Justice, Management Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Bridgewater State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Bridgewater State University are $57,466, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Bridgewater State University accredited?
Yes. Bridgewater State University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Bridgewater State University?
Bridgewater State University enrolls 7,829 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Bridgewater State University?
Bridgewater State University graduates 63% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Bridgewater State University a public or private college?
Bridgewater State University is a Public institution.
Where is Bridgewater State University located?
Bridgewater State University is located in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
What programs does Bridgewater State University offer?
Bridgewater State University offers 65 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Criminal Justice, Management Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Bridgewater State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bridgewater State University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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