Bridgewater State vs. Lesley University

Deciding between Bridgewater State University and Lesley 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 State University
Lesley University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bridgewater State Bridgewater, MA
  • Lesley University Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Bridgewater State Large Suburban
  • Lesley University Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bridgewater State 9,727
  • Lesley University 2,557
  • Type
  • Bridgewater State Public 4 Year
  • Lesley University Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bridgewater State #553
  • Lesley University
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bridgewater State -
  • Lesley University -
  • Status
  • Bridgewater State Non-profit
  • Lesley University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bridgewater State
  • Lesley University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bridgewater State $11,808
  • Lesley University $34,256
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bridgewater State $17,948
  • Lesley University $34,256
  • Room & Board
  • Bridgewater State $15,247
  • Lesley University $19,920
  • Average Net Price
  • Bridgewater State $15,646
  • Lesley University $32,587
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bridgewater State $10,318
  • Lesley University $19,167
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bridgewater State 86%
  • Lesley University 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bridgewater State 9,096
  • Lesley University 2,526
  • Admitted
  • Bridgewater State 7,987
  • Lesley University 2,447
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bridgewater State 87.8%
  • Lesley University 96.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Bridgewater State 19.4%
  • Lesley University 7.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bridgewater State 1160
  • Lesley University
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bridgewater State 27
  • Lesley University
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bridgewater State 3.21
  • Lesley University 3.31
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bridgewater State B+
  • Lesley University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bridgewater State Challenging
  • Lesley University Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bridgewater State
  • Lesley University
  • ACT Range
  • Bridgewater State 25/30
  • Lesley University
  • SAT Range
  • Bridgewater State 1060/1263
  • Lesley University
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bridgewater State Test optional
  • Lesley University Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Bridgewater State Feb 15, 2027
  • Lesley University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bridgewater State 17:1
  • Lesley University 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bridgewater State
    • Education (17%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Lesley University
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (21%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (20%)
    • Psychology (20%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bridgewater State 52%
  • Lesley University 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bridgewater State $45,700
  • Lesley University $38,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bridgewater State 64%
  • Lesley University 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bridgewater State $24,590
  • Lesley University $24,320
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bridgewater State $254
  • Lesley University $251

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bridgewater State 39%
  • Lesley University 23%
  • % Women
  • Bridgewater State 61%
  • Lesley University 77%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bridgewater State Low
  • Lesley University Medium
  • HBCU
  • Bridgewater State No
  • Lesley University No
  • % White
  • Bridgewater State 78%
  • Lesley University 67%
  • % Asian
  • Bridgewater State 2%
  • Lesley University 4%
  • % Black
  • Bridgewater State 9%
  • Lesley University 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bridgewater State 6%
  • Lesley University 10%
  • % Native American
  • Bridgewater State 0%
  • Lesley University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bridgewater State 0%
  • Lesley University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bridgewater State 3%
  • Lesley University 3%
  • % International
  • Bridgewater State 0%
  • Lesley University 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bridgewater State 1%
  • Lesley University 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bridgewater State 92%
  • Lesley University 62%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bridgewater State 8%
  • Lesley University 34%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Bridgewater State Yes
  • Lesley University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Bridgewater State No
  • Lesley University No
  • Meal Plan
  • Bridgewater State Yes
  • Lesley University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Bridgewater State No
  • Lesley University Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Bridgewater State Yes
  • Lesley University No

Comparable Facts

Compare Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA with Lesley University in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bridgewater State University is larger than Lesley University based on total student enrollment (9,727 students vs. 2,557 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bridgewater State University is located in Bridgewater, MA (Large Suburban setting); Lesley University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Bridgewater State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Lesley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bridgewater State University 17:1; Lesley University 10:1.

Bridgewater State vs. Lesley University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bridgewater State or Lesley University? 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 State University than Lesley University ($15,646 vs. $32,587).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater State University are 23.5% lower than at Lesley University ($15,247 vs. $19,920).
  • Lesley University is 190.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bridgewater State (about $22,448 more per year; $34,256.00 vs. $11,808.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 90.9% higher at Lesley University than at Bridgewater State University (about $16,308 more per year; $34,256.00 vs. $17,948.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lesley University than at Bridgewater State University (100% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lesley University students is 85.8% larger than aid received by Bridgewater State University students ($19,167 vs. $10,318).

Bridgewater State vs. Lesley University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bridgewater State or Lesley University? 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 Lesley University and Bridgewater State.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bridgewater State University 1060/1263.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bridgewater State University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bridgewater State - Test optional; Lesley University - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bridgewater State Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lesley University students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Bridgewater State (3.21).
  • Lesley University has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Bridgewater State (87.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Bridgewater State vs. 7.9% at Lesley University.

Bridgewater State vs. Lesley University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bridgewater State and Lesley University? 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 State University's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Lesley University's (49%).
  • Graduates from Bridgewater State University earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than Lesley University graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,700 vs. $38,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lesley University graduates have a $270 lower median loan debt than Bridgewater State graduates ($24,320 vs. $24,590).
  • Among borrowers, Lesley University graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bridgewater State graduates ($251 vs. $254).
  • More Bridgewater State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lesley University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 63%)

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.