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Mason Virginia Tech VCU UVA CNU Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD Elon ASU Penn State| Bridgewater College | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| 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 | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 17:1 | ||
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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/