BC vs. VSU

Deciding between Bridgewater College and Virginia State 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 State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Bridgewater, VA
  • VSU Petersburg, VA
  • Setting
  • BC Small Suburban
  • VSU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 1,448
  • VSU 5,605
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • VSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #623
  • VSU #950
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Church of Brethren
  • VSU -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • VSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • VSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $16,090
  • VSU $10,043
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $16,090
  • VSU $22,650
  • Room & Board
  • BC $14,850
  • VSU $13,355
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $11,316
  • VSU $17,840
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $47,288
  • VSU $12,447
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 100%
  • VSU 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 3,938
  • VSU 11,775
  • Admitted
  • BC 3,612
  • VSU 10,436
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 91.7%
  • VSU 88.6%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 10.1%
  • VSU 14.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1190
  • VSU 960
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC
  • VSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.61
  • VSU 2.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A-
  • VSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Difficult
  • VSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC
  • VSU
  • ACT Range
  • BC
  • VSU 14/20
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1020/1360
  • VSU 840/1070
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • VSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC May 1, 2027
  • VSU May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 13:1
  • VSU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • VSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 59%
  • VSU 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $43,100
  • VSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 77%
  • VSU 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $27,000
  • VSU $29,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $279
  • VSU $305

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 52%
  • VSU 40%
  • % Women
  • BC 48%
  • VSU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Low
  • VSU Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • VSU Yes
  • % White
  • BC 73%
  • VSU 3%
  • % Asian
  • BC 1%
  • VSU 1%
  • % Black
  • BC 11%
  • VSU 87%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 5%
  • VSU 2%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 5%
  • VSU 0%
  • % International
  • BC 1%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 4%
  • VSU 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 80%
  • VSU 68%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 19%
  • VSU 31%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia State University is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (5,605 students vs. 1,448 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BC vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or VSU? 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 VSU ($11,316 vs. $17,840).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia State University are 10.1% lower than at Bridgewater College ($13,355 vs. $14,850).
  • Bridgewater College is 60.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than VSU (about $6,047 more per year; $16,090.00 vs. $10,043.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.8% higher at VSU than at Bridgewater College (about $6,560 more per year; $22,650.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater College than at Virginia State University (100% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 279.9% larger than aid received by Virginia State University students ($47,288 vs. $12,447).

BC vs. VSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bridgewater College (1190) is 230 points higher than at VSU (960).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bridgewater College 1020/1360; Virginia State University 840/1070.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVirginia State University 14/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; VSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC May 1, 2027; VSU May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.76 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at VSU (2.85).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (91.7%) than VSU (88.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.1% at BC vs. 14.3% at VSU.

BC vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and VSU? 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 State University's (40%).
  • Graduates from Bridgewater College earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than VSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,100 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bridgewater College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than VSU graduates ($27,000 vs. $29,500).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VSU graduates ($279 vs. $305).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 28%)

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.