Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Northeastern BC NYU Babson Tufts UMass Brandeis University Lehigh Colgate George Washington Binghamton University Villanova| Boston University | Bridgewater State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
BU | Bridgewater State | ||
| Location | Boston, MA | Bridgewater, MA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 36,624 | 9,550 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #77 | #643 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bu.edu | bridgew.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
BU | Bridgewater State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $63,798 | $910 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $63,798 | $7,050 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,110 | $14,586 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,551 | $16,230 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $55,080 | $8,911 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 50% | 72% |
Admission |
BU | Bridgewater State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 80,495 | 8,631 | ||
| Admitted | 8,733 | 7,698 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 10.8% | 89.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36% | 20.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.79 | 3.21 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | |||
| ACT Range | 32/34 | 18/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1400/1520 | 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 4, 2026 | Feb 15, 2026 |
Academics |
BU | Bridgewater State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
BU | Bridgewater State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 85% | 52% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $72,000 | $45,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 82% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $24,590 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $254 |
Diversity |
BU | Bridgewater State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 21% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 28% | 11% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 43% | 78% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 20% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
BU | Bridgewater State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 14% | 90% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 61% | 9% | ||
Campus |
BU | 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
- Boston University is larger than than Bridgewater State based on total student enrollment (36,624 students vs. 9,550 students)
BU vs. Bridgewater State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, BU or Bridgewater State?
- Boston University is 6,910.8% more expensive to attend than Bridgewater State for in-state tuition ($63,798.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 804.9% higher at BU than Bridgewater State University ($63,798.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bridgewater State University than BU ($16,230 vs. $27,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater State University are 24.2% lower than costs at Boston University ($14,586 vs. $18,110)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Bridgewater State University than Boston University (72% vs. 50%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 518.1% larger than aid received Bridgewater State University ($55,080 vs. $8,911)
BU vs. Bridgewater State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, BU or Bridgewater State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bridgewater State or BU .
- The average SAT score at Boston University (1303) is 307 points higher than at Bridgewater State (996)
- Incoming BU students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Bridgewater State (22)
- Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Bridgewater State (3.21)
- Bridgewater State has a higher acceptance rate (89.2%) than BU (10.8%)
BU vs. Bridgewater State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, BU 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 BU.
- The graduation rate at BU is higher than Bridgewater State University (85% vs. 52%)
- Graduates from Boston University earn on average $26,300 more per year than Bridgewater State graduates after ten years. ($72,000 vs. $45,700)
- Bridgewater State University students graduate with a $2,410 lower median federal student loan debt than BU graduates. ($24,590 vs. $27,000)
- Bridgewater State graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than BU graduates. ($254 vs. $279)
- More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bridgewater State students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 64%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/