Bridgewater College Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Bridgewater College is a private research university in Bridgewater, Virginia, enrolling about 1,400 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 91.72% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $53,453 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $16,090
- 2024 Average Net Price: $17,800 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 91.72% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,400 99.7% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 53.05%
- Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
- First-Generation Students: 32.0%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 6.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 69.7%
- Average SAT Score: 1180
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,457
- Applicants (IPEDS): 3,984
- Room & Board: $14,850 annual estimate
Bridgewater College: what the data shows
Common questions about Bridgewater College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Bridgewater College?
Bridgewater College is located in Bridgewater, VA (ZIP 22812-1599).
NCES locale classification: Rural remote.
Is Bridgewater College public or private?
Bridgewater College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Bridgewater College cost?
Published tuition: $16,090.
Average net price after aid: $17,800.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $13,283 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $12,468 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,046 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $20,582 |
| $110,001+ | $21,448 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $64,360.
How hard is it to get into Bridgewater College?
Admission rate: 91.72%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1180 and midpoint ACT 25.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Bridgewater College?
Total enrollment: 1,400 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,457 students.
Graduate enrollment: 41 students.
About 100% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Bridgewater College?
150%-time completion rate: 53.05%.
First-year retention: 75.3%.
What do graduates of Bridgewater College earn?
Median earnings: $45,620 six years after entry; $53,453 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $26,000.
29.83% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Bridgewater College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General (52 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (50 completions)
- Psychology, General (19 completions)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (17 completions)
- Mass Communication/Media Studies (16 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (16 completions)
- Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General (16 completions)
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General (15 completions)
- Digital Arts (12 completions)
- Computer Science (11 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Bridgewater College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 91.72%; completion rate 53.05%; median earnings $53,453 at 10 years; net price $17,800. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$16,090
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Bridgewater College was $16,090.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$17,800
2024 Value
In 2024 Bridgewater College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $17,800.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$71,200 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$17,800 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$64,360 4-Year Tuition
$14,850 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,005 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$31,945 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$127,780 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Bridgewater College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
29.83% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
60.32% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Bridgewater College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Bridgewater College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $29,090 | $29,090 | $18,728 |
| 2014 | $30,380 | $30,380 | $18,892 |
| 2015 | $31,480 | $31,480 | $19,722 |
| 2016 | $32,590 | $32,590 | $19,861 |
| 2017 | $33,820 | $33,820 | $19,538 |
| 2018 | $35,160 | $35,160 | $19,836 |
| 2019 | $36,600 | $36,600 | $17,929 |
| 2020 | $37,720 | $37,720 | $20,457 |
| 2021 | $38,460 | $38,460 | $19,119 |
| 2022 | $39,800 | $39,800 | $18,897 |
| 2023 | $41,350 | $41,350 | $20,173 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
91.72% Acceptance Rate
3,984 Total Applicants
3,618 Students Admitted
429 First-Time Students Enrolled
11.86% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1180
ACT Average: 25
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Bridgewater College reported total enrollment of about 1,400 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 53% male and 47% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (66.2%), Black or African American (10.8%), and Hispanic or Latino (7.5%). About 29.83% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 32.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
99.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Bridgewater College in 2024 is 1,400 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,457 students. Graduate enrollment is about 41 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
75.3%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 66.2%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
44.75% 100% Completion Time
53.05% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 44.75% of students graduating from Bridgewater College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General: 38% male / 62% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 82% male / 18% female
- Psychology, General: 26% male / 74% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Bridgewater College.
Return on Investment
$26,000 Median Student Debt
$53,453 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
48.64% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
650.74% Return on Investment
4.9 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Bridgewater College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 32 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General: 52 completions
2. Business Administration and Management, General: 50 completions
3. Psychology, General: 19 completions
4. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 17 completions
5. Mass Communication/Media Studies: 16 completions
6. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 16 completions
7. Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General: 16 completions
8. Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General: 15 completions
9. Digital Arts: 12 completions
Most popular programs at Bridgewater College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Bridgewater College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Bridgewater College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 69.7%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,326
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,750
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Bridgewater College is a private non-profit institution located in Bridgewater, VA, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General, Business Administration and Management, General, Psychology, General. Enrollment is approximately 1,400 students. Student body composition includes White (66.2%), Black or African American (10.8%), Hispanic or Latino (7.5%). The admission rate is 91.72%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1180. The 150%-time completion rate is 53.05%. Approximately 29.83% of students receive Pell Grants. About 32.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
Location
Bridgewater, VA 22812-1599
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Bridgewater College provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bridgewater College located?
Bridgewater College is located in Bridgewater, VA.
What is Bridgewater College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Bridgewater College is 91.7% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 3,984 applicants and 3,618 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Bridgewater College cost?
Reported tuition is $16,090 and average net price is $17,800 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,850 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Bridgewater College?
Bridgewater College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,457 students, White (66.2%), Black or African American (10.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Bridgewater College?
About 32.0% of students at Bridgewater College are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Bridgewater College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Bridgewater College reports midpoint SAT about 1180 and midpoint ACT about 25.
What do graduates of Bridgewater College earn?
Median earnings are $45,620 six years after entry and $53,453 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Bridgewater College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 53.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Bridgewater College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $26,000.
Is Bridgewater College public or private?
Bridgewater College is a private nonprofit institution located in Bridgewater, VA.
Is Bridgewater College an HBCU?
No. Bridgewater College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Bridgewater College a tribal college?
No. Bridgewater College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Virginia college costs
- Virginia colleges by ROI
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Virginia
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.