Bridgewater State Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Bridgewater State University is a public research university in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, serving roughly 7,829 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 87.81% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $57,466 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $11,808
- 2024 Average Net Price: $16,383 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 87.81% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 7,829 84.6% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 53.41%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
- First-Generation Students: 34.1%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 3.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 100.0%
- Average SAT Score: 1180
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,623
- Applicants (IPEDS): 8,631
- Room & Board: $15,247 annual estimate
Bridgewater State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Bridgewater State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Bridgewater State University?
Bridgewater State University is located in Bridgewater, MA (ZIP 02325).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Bridgewater State University public or private?
Bridgewater State University is a Public institution.
How much does Bridgewater State University cost?
Published tuition: $11,808 in-state, $17,948 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $16,383.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $10,007 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $11,579 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $13,559 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $16,904 |
| $110,001+ | $21,176 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $47,232.
How hard is it to get into Bridgewater State University?
Admission rate: 87.81%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1180 and midpoint ACT 24.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Bridgewater State University?
Total enrollment: 7,829 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 9,623 students.
Graduate enrollment: 1,457 students.
About 85% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Bridgewater State University?
150%-time completion rate: 53.41%.
First-year retention: 75.1%.
What do graduates of Bridgewater State University earn?
Median earnings: $46,673 six years after entry; $57,466 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $24,286.
31.94% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Bridgewater State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Psychology, General (243 completions)
- Social Work (176 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (136 completions)
- Management Science (126 completions)
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric (115 completions)
- Special Education and Teaching, General (112 completions)
- English Language and Literature, General (91 completions)
- Health Professions and Related Programs (81 completions)
- Physical Education Teaching and Coaching (75 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (73 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Bridgewater State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 87.81%; completion rate 53.41%; median earnings $57,466 at 10 years; net price $16,383. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$11,808
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Bridgewater State University was $11,808.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$16,383
2024 Value
In 2024 Bridgewater State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $16,383.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$65,532 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$16,383 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$47,232 4-Year In-State Tuition
$71,792 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$15,247 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$2,200 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$29,255 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$117,020 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Bridgewater State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
31.94% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
74.98% 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 State University 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 State University 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 | $8,053 | $14,193 | $17,477 |
| 2014 | $8,353 | $14,493 | $17,781 |
| 2015 | $8,903 | $15,043 | $18,745 |
| 2016 | $9,603 | $15,743 | $19,382 |
| 2017 | $10,012 | $16,152 | $18,685 |
| 2018 | $10,367 | $16,507 | $17,765 |
| 2019 | $10,732 | $16,872 | $18,457 |
| 2020 | $10,732 | $16,872 | $18,951 |
| 2021 | $10,732 | $16,872 | $14,071 |
| 2022 | $11,051 | $17,191 | $18,707 |
| 2023 | $11,389 | $17,529 | $17,970 |
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
87.81% Acceptance Rate
8,631 Total Applicants
7,698 Students Admitted
1,580 First-Time Students Enrolled
20.52% 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: 24
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 State University reported total enrollment of about 7,829 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 43% male and 57% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (67.4%), Hispanic or Latino (11.0%), and Black or African American (10.6%). About 31.94% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 34.1% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
84.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Bridgewater State University in 2024 is 7,829 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 9,623 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,457 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
75.1%
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 67.4%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
31.67% 100% Completion Time
53.41% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 31.67% of students graduating from Bridgewater State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Psychology, General: 16% male / 84% female
- Social Work: 11% male / 89% female
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 49% male / 51% 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 State University.
Return on Investment
$24,286 Median Student Debt
$57,466 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
42.26% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
776.92% Return on Investment
4.2 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Bridgewater State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 70 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Psychology, General: 243 completions
2. Social Work: 176 completions
3. Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 136 completions
4. Management Science: 126 completions
5. Speech Communication and Rhetoric: 115 completions
6. Special Education and Teaching, General: 112 completions
7. English Language and Literature, General: 91 completions
8. Health Professions and Related Programs: 81 completions
9. Physical Education Teaching and Coaching: 75 completions
Most popular programs at Bridgewater State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Bridgewater State University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Bridgewater State University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $11,130
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $11,273
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 State University is a public institution located in Bridgewater, MA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Psychology, General, Social Work, Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. Enrollment is approximately 7,829 students. Student body composition includes White (67.4%), Hispanic or Latino (11.0%), Black or African American (10.6%). The admission rate is 87.81%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1180. The 150%-time completion rate is 53.41%. Approximately 31.94% of students receive Pell Grants. About 34.1% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Location
Bridgewater, MA 02325
Region: New England
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 70 distinct degree programs, Bridgewater State University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bridgewater State University located?
Bridgewater State University is located in Bridgewater, MA.
What is Bridgewater State University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Bridgewater State University is 87.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 8,631 applicants and 7,698 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Bridgewater State University cost?
Reported tuition is $11,808 and average net price is $16,383 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $15,247 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Bridgewater State University?
Bridgewater State University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 9,623 students, White (67.4%), Hispanic or Latino (11.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Bridgewater State University?
About 34.1% of students at Bridgewater State University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Bridgewater State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Bridgewater State University reports midpoint SAT about 1180 and midpoint ACT about 24.
What do graduates of Bridgewater State University earn?
Median earnings are $46,673 six years after entry and $57,466 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Bridgewater State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 53.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Bridgewater State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,286.
Is Bridgewater State University public or private?
Bridgewater State University is a public institution located in Bridgewater, MA.
Is Bridgewater State University an HBCU?
No. Bridgewater State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Bridgewater State University a tribal college?
No. Bridgewater State University 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
- Massachusetts college costs
- Massachusetts colleges by ROI
- New England regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Massachusetts
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.