BC vs. JMU

Should I go to Bridgewater College or James Madison University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BC or JMU 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Mason Virginia Tech VCU UVA CNU Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD Elon ASU Penn State
Bridgewater College vs. James Madison University comparison
Bridgewater College James Madison University College 3 College 4
Bridgewater College James Madison University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

BC JMU
Location Bridgewater, VA Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Small Suburban Small City
Enrollment 1,421 22,224
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #676 #260
Religious Affiliation Church of Brethren - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bridgewater.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

BC JMU
Tuition (In State) $38,800 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $38,800 $24,744
Room & Board $13,830 $12,040
Avg Net Price $19,332 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $34,142 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 33%

Admission

BC JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,402 30,727
Admitted 3,074 24,062
Acceptance Rate 90.4% 78.3%
Enrolled % 13.7% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/28 23/29
SAT Range 1020/1230 1140/1320
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 May 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

BC JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

BC JMU
Graduation Rate 59% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,100 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $279 $216

Diversity

BC JMU
% Men 48% 42%
% Women 52% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 76%
% Black 11% 4%
% Hispanic 5% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 3%

Students

BC JMU
% In-State 73% 73%
% Out-of-State 24% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • James Madison University is larger than than BC based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 1,421 students)

BC vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or JMU?

  • Bridgewater College is 404.9% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($38,800.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 56.8% higher at BC than James Madison University ($38,800.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than BC ($18,274 vs. $19,332)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 14.9% lower than costs at Bridgewater College ($12,040 vs. $13,830)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bridgewater College than James Madison University (100% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 238.7% larger than aid received James Madison University ($34,142 vs. $10,081)

BC vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 100 points higher than at BC (1034)
  • Incoming JMU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at BC (24)
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at JMU (3.57)
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than JMU (78.3%)

BC vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Bridgewater College (81% vs. 59%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $17,200 more per year than BC graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $43,100)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $6,101 lower median federal student loan debt than BC graduates. ($20,899 vs. $27,000)
  • JMU graduates are paying $63 less per month on federal student loans than BC graduates. ($216 vs. $279)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BC students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 77%)

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