Bentley vs. Bridgewater State

Should I go to Bentley University or Bridgewater State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bentley or Bridgewater State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Bentley University vs. Bridgewater State University comparison
Bentley University Bridgewater State University College 3 College 4
Bentley University Bridgewater State University
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Overview

 Bentley Bridgewater State
Location Waltham, MA Bridgewater, MA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,264 9,550
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #108 #643
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bentley.edu bridgew.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Bentley Bridgewater State
Tuition (In State) $58,150 $910
Tuition (Out of State) $58,150 $7,050
Room & Board $19,200 $14,586
Avg Net Price $43,858 $16,230
Avg Grant Aid $33,293 $8,911
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 72%

Admission

 Bentley Bridgewater State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,482 8,631
Admitted 5,077 7,698
Acceptance Rate 48.4% 89.2%
Enrolled % 22.1% 20.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.21
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Very High Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/32 18/27
SAT Range 1250/1410 1040/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2026 Feb 15, 2026

Academics

 Bentley Bridgewater State
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (83%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
  • Mathematics (1%)
  • General Studies (1%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

 Bentley Bridgewater State
Graduation Rate 88% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $87,200 $45,700
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,500 $24,590
Median Loan Payment $274 $254

Diversity

 Bentley Bridgewater State
% Men 9% 4%
% Women 9% 11%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 78%
% Black 3% 9%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 14% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

 Bentley Bridgewater State
% In-State 38% 90%
% Out-of-State 46% 9%

Campus

 Bentley Bridgewater State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bridgewater State University is larger than than Bentley based on total student enrollment (9,550 students vs. 5,264 students)

Bentley vs. Bridgewater State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bentley or Bridgewater State?

  • Bentley University is 6,290.1% more expensive to attend than Bridgewater State for in-state tuition ($58,150.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 724.8% higher at Bentley than Bridgewater State University ($58,150.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bridgewater State University than Bentley ($16,230 vs. $43,858)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater State University are 31.6% lower than costs at Bentley University ($14,586 vs. $19,200)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bentley University than Bridgewater State University (86% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bentley University students is 273.6% larger than aid received Bridgewater State University ($33,293 vs. $8,911)

Bentley vs. Bridgewater State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bentley or Bridgewater State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bridgewater State or Bentley .

  • The average SAT score at Bentley University (1244) is 248 points higher than at Bridgewater State (996)
  • Incoming Bentley students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Bridgewater State (22)
  • Accepted freshman Bentley students have a 0.54 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Bridgewater State (3.21)
  • Bridgewater State has a higher acceptance rate (89.2%) than Bentley (48.4%)

Bentley vs. Bridgewater State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bentley or Bridgewater State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Bridgewater State and Bentley.

  • The graduation rate at Bentley is higher than Bridgewater State University (88% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from Bentley University earn on average $41,500 more per year than Bridgewater State graduates after ten years. ($87,200 vs. $45,700)
  • Bridgewater State University students graduate with a $1,910 lower median federal student loan debt than Bentley graduates. ($24,590 vs. $26,500)
  • Bridgewater State graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than Bentley graduates. ($254 vs. $274)
  • More Bentley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bridgewater State students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 64%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/