BC vs. VCU

Deciding between Bridgewater College and Virginia Commonwealth 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
Virginia Commonwealth University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Bridgewater, VA
  • VCU Richmond, VA
  • Setting
  • BC Small Suburban
  • VCU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 1,448
  • VCU 28,464
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • VCU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #623
  • VCU #465
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Church of Brethren
  • VCU -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • VCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • VCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $16,090
  • VCU $16,945
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $16,090
  • VCU $40,109
  • Room & Board
  • BC $14,850
  • VCU $18,254
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $11,316
  • VCU $26,836
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $47,288
  • VCU $14,186
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 100%
  • VCU 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 3,938
  • VCU 20,954
  • Admitted
  • BC 3,612
  • VCU 19,408
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 91.7%
  • VCU 92.6%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 10.1%
  • VCU 21.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1190
  • VCU 1140
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC
  • VCU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.61
  • VCU 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A-
  • VCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Difficult
  • VCU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC
  • VCU
  • ACT Range
  • BC
  • VCU 22/30
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1020/1360
  • VCU 1010/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • VCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC May 1, 2027
  • VCU Jan 18, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 13:1
  • VCU 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%)
  • VCU
    • Business (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 59%
  • VCU 53%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $43,100
  • VCU $47,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 77%
  • VCU 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $27,000
  • VCU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $279
  • VCU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 52%
  • VCU 36%
  • % Women
  • BC 48%
  • VCU 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Low
  • VCU High
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • VCU No
  • % White
  • BC 73%
  • VCU 50%
  • % Asian
  • BC 1%
  • VCU 13%
  • % Black
  • BC 11%
  • VCU 18%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 5%
  • VCU 8%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • VCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • VCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 5%
  • VCU 6%
  • % International
  • BC 1%
  • VCU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 4%
  • VCU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 80%
  • VCU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 19%
  • VCU 6%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA with Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (28,464 students vs. 1,448 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BC vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or VCU? 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 VCU ($11,316 vs. $26,836).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater College are 18.6% lower than at Virginia Commonwealth University ($14,850 vs. $18,254).
  • Virginia Commonwealth University is 5.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than BC (about $855 more per year; $16,945.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 149.3% higher at VCU than at Bridgewater College (about $24,019 more per year; $40,109.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater College than at Virginia Commonwealth University (100% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 233.3% larger than aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students ($47,288 vs. $14,186).

BC vs. VCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BC or VCU? 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 VCU and BC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bridgewater College (1190) is 50 points higher than at VCU (1140).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bridgewater College 1020/1360; Virginia Commonwealth University 1010/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVirginia Commonwealth University 22/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; VCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC May 1, 2027; VCU Jan 18, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at BC (3.61).
  • VCU has a higher acceptance rate (92.6%) than BC (91.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.1% at BC vs. 21.6% at VCU.

BC vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and VCU? 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).

  • Bridgewater College's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University's (53%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,500 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Commonwealth University graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, VCU graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($240 vs. $279).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 56%)

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.