Bridgewater State vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

Compare Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA with Penn State Wilkes Barre in Dallas, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bridgewater State University is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (9,727 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bridgewater State University is located in Bridgewater, MA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Wilkes Barre is in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Bridgewater State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bridgewater State University 17:1; Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1.

Bridgewater State vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bridgewater State or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes-Barre ($15,646 vs. $16,621).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater State University are 0.2% lower than at Penn State Wilkes Barre ($15,247 vs. $15,274).
• Penn State Wilkes Barre is 20.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bridgewater State (about $2,472 more per year; $14,280.00 vs. $11,808.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.8% higher at Penn State Wilkes-Barre than at Bridgewater State University (about $6,058 more per year; $24,006.00 vs. $17,948.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at Bridgewater State University (89% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater State University students is 5.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($10,318 vs. $9,742).

Bridgewater State vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bridgewater State or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Bridgewater State.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Wilkes Barre (1210) is 50 points higher than at Bridgewater State (1160).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bridgewater State University 1060/1263; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• 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; Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bridgewater State Feb 15, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Bridgewater State (87.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Bridgewater State vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Bridgewater State vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bridgewater State and Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Wilkes Barre earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than Bridgewater State graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bridgewater State University graduates have a $2,228 lower median loan debt than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($24,590 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Bridgewater State graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($254 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bridgewater State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 64%)

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.