Bridgewater State vs. Mercy

Deciding between Bridgewater State University and Mercy 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
Mercy University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bridgewater State Bridgewater, MA
  • Mercy Dobbs Ferry, NY
  • Setting
  • Bridgewater State Large Suburban
  • Mercy Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Bridgewater State 9,727
  • Mercy 8,991
  • Type
  • Bridgewater State Public 4 Year
  • Mercy Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bridgewater State #553
  • Mercy #866
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bridgewater State -
  • Mercy -
  • Status
  • Bridgewater State Non-profit
  • Mercy Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bridgewater State
  • Mercy
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bridgewater State $11,808
  • Mercy $22,880
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bridgewater State $17,948
  • Mercy $22,880
  • Room & Board
  • Bridgewater State $15,247
  • Mercy $15,250
  • Average Net Price
  • Bridgewater State $15,646
  • Mercy $15,200
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bridgewater State $10,318
  • Mercy $17,664
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bridgewater State 86%
  • Mercy 99%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bridgewater State 9,096
  • Mercy 8,642
  • Admitted
  • Bridgewater State 7,987
  • Mercy 7,418
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bridgewater State 87.8%
  • Mercy 85.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Bridgewater State 19.4%
  • Mercy 14.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bridgewater State 1160
  • Mercy 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bridgewater State 27
  • Mercy 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bridgewater State 3.21
  • Mercy 3.19
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bridgewater State B+
  • Mercy B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bridgewater State Challenging
  • Mercy Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bridgewater State
  • Mercy
  • ACT Range
  • Bridgewater State 25/30
  • Mercy 21/25
  • SAT Range
  • Bridgewater State 1060/1263
  • Mercy 1020/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bridgewater State Test optional
  • Mercy Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Bridgewater State Feb 15, 2027
  • Mercy
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bridgewater State 17:1
  • Mercy 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bridgewater State
    • Education (17%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Mercy
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (4%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bridgewater State 52%
  • Mercy 31%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bridgewater State $45,700
  • Mercy $42,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bridgewater State 64%
  • Mercy 40%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bridgewater State $24,590
  • Mercy $23,699
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bridgewater State $254
  • Mercy $245
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bridgewater State 39%
  • Mercy 30%
  • % Women
  • Bridgewater State 61%
  • Mercy 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bridgewater State Low
  • Mercy Very High
  • HBCU
  • Bridgewater State No
  • Mercy No
  • % White
  • Bridgewater State 78%
  • Mercy 27%
  • % Asian
  • Bridgewater State 2%
  • Mercy 4%
  • % Black
  • Bridgewater State 9%
  • Mercy 23%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bridgewater State 6%
  • Mercy 35%
  • % Native American
  • Bridgewater State 0%
  • Mercy 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bridgewater State 0%
  • Mercy 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bridgewater State 3%
  • Mercy 2%
  • % International
  • Bridgewater State 0%
  • Mercy 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bridgewater State 1%
  • Mercy 7%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bridgewater State 92%
  • Mercy 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bridgewater State 8%
  • Mercy 6%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA with Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bridgewater State University is larger than Mercy based on total student enrollment (9,727 students vs. 8,991 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bridgewater State University is located in Bridgewater, MA (Large Suburban setting); Mercy University is in Dobbs Ferry, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Bridgewater State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bridgewater State University 17:1; Mercy University 16:1.

Bridgewater State vs. Mercy Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bridgewater State or Mercy? 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 Mercy University than Bridgewater State ($15,200 vs. $15,646).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater State University are 0% lower than at Mercy University ($15,247 vs. $15,250).
  • Mercy University is 93.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bridgewater State (about $11,072 more per year; $22,880.00 vs. $11,808.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27.5% higher at Mercy than at Bridgewater State University (about $4,932 more per year; $22,880.00 vs. $17,948.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mercy University than at Bridgewater State University (99% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercy University students is 71.2% larger than aid received by Bridgewater State University students ($17,664 vs. $10,318).

Bridgewater State vs. Mercy Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bridgewater State University (1160) is 30 points higher than at Mercy (1130).
  • Incoming Bridgewater State students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 23 at Mercy).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bridgewater State University 1060/1263; Mercy University 1020/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bridgewater State University 25/30; Mercy University 21/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bridgewater State - Test optional; Mercy - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bridgewater State Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Bridgewater State students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.21) than students at Mercy (3.19).
  • Bridgewater State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Mercy (85.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Bridgewater State vs. 14.3% at Mercy.

Bridgewater State vs. Mercy Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bridgewater State and Mercy? 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 Mercy University's (31%).
  • Graduates from Bridgewater State University earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Mercy graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,700 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mercy University graduates have a $891 lower median loan debt than Bridgewater State graduates ($23,699 vs. $24,590).
  • Among borrowers, Mercy graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bridgewater State graduates ($245 vs. $254).
  • More Bridgewater State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercy students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 40%)

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.