Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Salem State University Framingham State University Westfield State University University of Massachusetts-Boston UMass Dartmouth Fitchburg State University of Massachusetts-Lowell UMass Curry College Worcester State University KSC University of Southern Maine| Bridgewater State University | Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Bridgewater State | MCLA | ||
| Location | Bridgewater, MA | North Adams, MA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 9,604 | 938 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #674 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bridgew.edu | mcla.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Bridgewater State | MCLA | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $910 | $1,030 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $9,975 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,162 | $13,632 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,225 | $15,377 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,616 | $9,044 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 82% | 100% |
Admission |
Bridgewater State | MCLA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,807 | 1,456 | ||
| Admitted | 7,725 | 1,346 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87.7% | 92.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.3% | 13.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.21 | 3.2 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 17/21 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1210 | 960/1180 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Bridgewater State | MCLA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 9:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Bridgewater State | MCLA | ||
| Graduation Rate | 52% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $45,700 | $37,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,590 | $24,659 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $254 | $254 |
Diversity |
Bridgewater State | MCLA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 74% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 4% |
Students |
Bridgewater State | MCLA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 55% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 7% | 45% | ||
Campus |
Bridgewater State | MCLA | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Bridgewater State University is larger than than MCLA based on total student enrollment (9,604 students vs. 938 students)
Bridgewater State vs. MCLA Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Bridgewater State or MCLA?
- Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is 13.2% more expensive to attend than Bridgewater State for in-state tuition ($1,030.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 41.5% higher at MCLA than Bridgewater State University ($9,975.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than Bridgewater State ($15,377 vs. $17,225)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 3.9% lower than costs at Bridgewater State University ($13,632 vs. $14,162)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than Bridgewater State University (100% vs. 82%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students is 5% larger than aid received Bridgewater State University ($9,044 vs. $8,616)
Bridgewater State vs. MCLA Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Bridgewater State or MCLA? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MCLA or Bridgewater State .
- The average SAT score at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (1016) is 20 points higher than at Bridgewater State (996)
- Incoming MCLA students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Bridgewater State (22)
- Accepted freshman Bridgewater State students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.21) than students at MCLA (3.2)
- MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (92.4%) than Bridgewater State (87.7%)
Bridgewater State vs. MCLA Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Bridgewater State or MCLA? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between MCLA and Bridgewater State.
- The graduation rate at MCLA is higher than Bridgewater State University (53% vs. 52%)
- Graduates from Bridgewater State University earn on average $8,600 more per year than MCLA graduates after ten years. ($45,700 vs. $37,100)
- Bridgewater State University students graduate with a $69 lower median federal student loan debt than MCLA graduates. ($24,590 vs. $24,659)
- Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Bridgewater State graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($254 vs. $254)
- More Bridgewater State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA 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/