BC vs. SU

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

 BC SU
Location Bridgewater, VA Winchester, VA
Setting Small Suburban Small City
Enrollment 1,436 4,343
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #603 #523
Religious Affiliation Church of Brethren United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bridgewater.edu su.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 BC SU
Tuition (In State) $40,300 $34,614
Tuition (Out of State) $40,300 $34,614
Room & Board $14,370 $11,800
Avg Net Price $19,660 $26,400
Avg Grant Aid $36,350 $24,100
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 BC SU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,984 3,763
Admitted 3,618 2,929
Acceptance Rate 90.8% 77.8%
Enrolled % 11.9% 16.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.7
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 28/29 19/26
SAT Range 1070/1375 1010/1230
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 BC SU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Health Professions (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

 BC SU
Graduation Rate 59% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,100 $48,300
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $258

Diversity

 BC SU
% Men 1% 9%
% Women 2% 31%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 73% 59%
% Black 11% 11%
% Hispanic 5% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 13%

Students

 BC SU
% In-State 69% 58%
% Out-of-State 25% 42%

Campus

 BC SU
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

  • Shenandoah University is larger than than BC based on total student enrollment (4,343 students vs. 1,436 students)

BC vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or SU?

  • Bridgewater College is 16.4% more expensive to attend than SU for in-state tuition ($40,300.00 vs. $34,614.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.4% higher at BC than Shenandoah University ($40,300.00 vs. $34,614.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bridgewater College than SU ($19,660 vs. $26,400)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 21.8% lower than costs at Bridgewater College ($11,800 vs. $14,370)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Bridgewater College as Shenandoah University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 50.8% larger than aid received Shenandoah University ($36,350 vs. $24,100)

BC vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bridgewater College (1034) is 29 points higher than at SU (1005)
  • Incoming BC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at SU (22)
  • Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at BC (3.61)
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than SU (77.8%)

BC vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at BC is higher than Shenandoah University (59% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Shenandoah University earn on average $5,200 more per year than BC graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $43,100)
  • Shenandoah University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than BC graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • SU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than BC graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 60%)

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