BC vs. EMU

Should I go to Bridgewater College or Eastern Mennonite University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BC or EMU 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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Bridgewater College vs. Eastern Mennonite University comparison
Bridgewater College Eastern Mennonite University College 3 College 4
Bridgewater College Eastern Mennonite University
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Overview

BC EMU
Location Bridgewater, VA Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Small Suburban Small City
Enrollment 1,421 1,334
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #676 #215
Religious Affiliation Church of Brethren Mennonite Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bridgewater.edu emu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

BC EMU
Tuition (In State) $38,800 $40,590
Tuition (Out of State) $38,800 $40,590
Room & Board $13,830 $12,240
Avg Net Price $19,332 $23,783
Avg Grant Aid $34,142 $30,460
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

BC EMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,402 1,144
Admitted 3,074 1,138
Acceptance Rate 90.4% 99.5%
Enrolled % 13.7% 17.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.7
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Average Elite
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/28 25/34
SAT Range 1020/1230 1040/1590
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline May 1, 2025

Academics

BC EMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Health Professions (30%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • General Studies (5%)

Outcomes

BC EMU
Graduation Rate 59% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,100 $43,900
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,450
Median Loan Payment $279 $242

Diversity

BC EMU
% Men 48% 34%
% Women 52% 66%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 71%
% Black 11% 10%
% Hispanic 5% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

BC EMU
% In-State 73% 68%
% Out-of-State 24% 27%

Campus

BC EMU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bridgewater College is larger than than EMU based on total student enrollment (1,421 students vs. 1,334 students)

BC vs. EMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or EMU?

  • Eastern Mennonite University is 4.6% more expensive to attend than BC for in-state tuition ($40,590.00 vs. $38,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.6% higher at EMU than Bridgewater College ($40,590.00 vs. $38,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bridgewater College than EMU ($19,332 vs. $23,783)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Mennonite University are 13% lower than costs at Bridgewater College ($12,240 vs. $13,830)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bridgewater College than Eastern Mennonite University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 12.1% larger than aid received Eastern Mennonite University ($34,142 vs. $30,460)

BC vs. EMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bridgewater College (1034) is 25 points higher than at EMU (1009)
  • Incoming BC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at EMU (22)
  • Accepted freshman EMU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at BC (3.61)
  • EMU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than BC (90.4%)

BC vs. EMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, BC or EMU? 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 EMU and BC.

  • The graduation rate at EMU is higher than Bridgewater College (66% vs. 59%)
  • Graduates from Eastern Mennonite University earn on average $800 more per year than BC graduates after ten years. ($43,900 vs. $43,100)
  • Eastern Mennonite University students graduate with a $3,550 lower median federal student loan debt than BC graduates. ($23,450 vs. $27,000)
  • EMU graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than BC graduates. ($242 vs. $279)
  • More EMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BC students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 77%)

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