BC vs. VWC

Deciding between Bridgewater College and Virginia Wesleyan 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 Wesleyan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Bridgewater, VA
  • VWC Virginia Beach, VA
  • Setting
  • BC Small Suburban
  • VWC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 1,448
  • VWC 1,853
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • VWC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #623
  • VWC #684
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Church of Brethren
  • VWC United Methodist
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • VWC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • VWC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $16,090
  • VWC $37,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $16,090
  • VWC $37,500
  • Room & Board
  • BC $14,850
  • VWC $11,930
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $11,316
  • VWC $21,267
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $47,288
  • VWC $29,923
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 100%
  • VWC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 3,938
  • VWC 3,808
  • Admitted
  • BC 3,612
  • VWC 2,775
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 91.7%
  • VWC 72.9%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 10.1%
  • VWC 11.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1190
  • VWC 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC
  • VWC 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.61
  • VWC 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A-
  • VWC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Difficult
  • VWC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC
  • VWC Low
  • ACT Range
  • BC
  • VWC 28/29
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1020/1360
  • VWC 1140/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • VWC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC May 1, 2027
  • VWC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 13:1
  • VWC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • VWC
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 59%
  • VWC 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $43,100
  • VWC $41,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 77%
  • VWC 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $27,000
  • VWC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $279
  • VWC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 52%
  • VWC 47%
  • % Women
  • BC 48%
  • VWC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Low
  • VWC High
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • VWC No
  • % White
  • BC 73%
  • VWC 54%
  • % Asian
  • BC 1%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Black
  • BC 11%
  • VWC 24%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 5%
  • VWC 8%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • VWC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 5%
  • VWC 5%
  • % International
  • BC 1%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 4%
  • VWC 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 80%
  • VWC 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 19%
  • VWC 25%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia Wesleyan University is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (1,853 students vs. 1,448 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bridgewater College is located in Bridgewater, VA (Small Suburban setting); Virginia Wesleyan University is in Virginia Beach, VA (Large City setting).
  • Bridgewater College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bridgewater College 13:1; Virginia Wesleyan University 15:1.

BC vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or VWC? 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 VWC ($11,316 vs. $21,267).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Wesleyan University are 19.7% lower than at Bridgewater College ($11,930 vs. $14,850).
  • Virginia Wesleyan University is 133.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than BC (about $21,410 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 133.1% higher at VWC than at Bridgewater College (about $21,410 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater College as at Virginia Wesleyan University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 58% larger than aid received by Virginia Wesleyan University students ($47,288 vs. $29,923).

BC vs. VWC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Wesleyan University (1250) is 60 points higher than at BC (1190).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bridgewater College 1020/1360; Virginia Wesleyan University 1140/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVirginia Wesleyan University 28/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; VWC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at VWC (3.39).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (91.7%) than VWC (72.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.1% at BC vs. 11.9% at VWC.

BC vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and VWC? 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 Wesleyan University's (48%).
  • Graduates from Bridgewater College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than VWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,100 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Wesleyan University and BC graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Virginia Wesleyan University 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 VWC students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 57%)

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.