BC vs. Sweet Briar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA with Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bridgewater College is larger than Sweet Briar College based on total student enrollment (1,448 students vs. 444 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bridgewater College is located in Bridgewater, VA (Small Suburban setting); Sweet Briar College is in Sweet Briar, VA (Small Suburban setting).
• Bridgewater College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sweet Briar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bridgewater College 13:1; Sweet Briar College 9:1.

BC vs. Sweet Briar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or Sweet Briar College? 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 Sweet Briar College ($11,316 vs. $21,322).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater College are 2.5% lower than at Sweet Briar College ($14,850 vs. $15,230).
• Sweet Briar College is 62.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than BC (about $10,070 more per year; $26,160.00 vs. $16,090.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 62.6% higher at Sweet Briar College than at Bridgewater College (about $10,070 more per year; $26,160.00 vs. $16,090.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater College than at Sweet Briar College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 111.2% larger than aid received by Sweet Briar College students ($47,288 vs. $22,387).

BC vs. Sweet Briar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BC or Sweet Briar College? 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 Sweet Briar College and BC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sweet Briar College (1210) is 20 points higher than at BC (1190).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bridgewater College 1020/1360; Sweet Briar College 1100/1310.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Sweet Briar College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: BC May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Sweet Briar College (3.54).
• BC has a higher acceptance rate (91.7%) than Sweet Briar College (75.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.1% at BC vs. 13.2% at Sweet Briar College.

BC vs. Sweet Briar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and Sweet Briar College? 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).

• Sweet Briar College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Bridgewater College's (59%).
• Graduates from Bridgewater College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Sweet Briar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,100 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sweet Briar College and BC graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Sweet Briar College and BC graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sweet Briar College students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 72%)

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.