BC vs. JMU

Deciding between Bridgewater College and James Madison University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Bridgewater College
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Bridgewater, VA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • BC Small Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 1,448
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #623
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Church of Brethren
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $16,090
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $16,090
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • BC $14,850
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $11,316
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $47,288
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 100%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 3,938
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • BC 3,612
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 91.7%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 10.1%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1190
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.61
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Difficult
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • BC
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1020/1360
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC May 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 52%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • BC 48%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • BC 73%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • BC 1%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • BC 11%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 5%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • BC 1%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 4%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 80%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 19%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

James Madison University is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 1,448 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bridgewater College is located in Bridgewater, VA (Small Suburban setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Bridgewater College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bridgewater College 13:1; James Madison University 17:1.

BC vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or JMU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bridgewater College than JMU ($11,316 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 12.1% lower than at Bridgewater College ($13,056 vs. $14,850).
  • Bridgewater College is 12.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $1,840 more per year; $16,090.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 96.4% higher at JMU than at Bridgewater College (about $15,514 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater College than at James Madison University (100% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 290.4% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($47,288 vs. $12,114).

BC vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BC or JMU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between JMU and BC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 70 points higher than at BC (1190).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bridgewater College 1020/1360; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsJames Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC May 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (91.7%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.1% at BC vs. 18.2% at JMU.

BC vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and JMU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • James Madison University's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Bridgewater College's (59%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $17,200 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $6,101 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($20,899 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $63 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.