Bridgewater State vs. RIC

Deciding between Bridgewater State University and Rhode Island College? 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
Rhode Island College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bridgewater State Bridgewater, MA
  • RIC Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Bridgewater State Large Suburban
  • RIC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Bridgewater State 9,727
  • RIC 6,155
  • Type
  • Bridgewater State Public 4 Year
  • RIC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bridgewater State #553
  • RIC #843
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bridgewater State -
  • RIC -
  • Status
  • Bridgewater State Non-profit
  • RIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bridgewater State
  • RIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bridgewater State $11,808
  • RIC $11,300
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bridgewater State $17,948
  • RIC $27,299
  • Room & Board
  • Bridgewater State $15,247
  • RIC $13,414
  • Average Net Price
  • Bridgewater State $15,646
  • RIC $10,346
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bridgewater State $10,318
  • RIC $6,706
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bridgewater State 86%
  • RIC 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bridgewater State 9,096
  • RIC 5,415
  • Admitted
  • Bridgewater State 7,987
  • RIC 4,972
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bridgewater State 87.8%
  • RIC 91.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Bridgewater State 19.4%
  • RIC 23.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bridgewater State 1160
  • RIC 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bridgewater State 27
  • RIC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bridgewater State 3.21
  • RIC 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bridgewater State B+
  • RIC B
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bridgewater State Challenging
  • RIC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bridgewater State
  • RIC
  • ACT Range
  • Bridgewater State 25/30
  • RIC
  • SAT Range
  • Bridgewater State 1060/1263
  • RIC 870/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bridgewater State Test optional
  • RIC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bridgewater State Feb 15, 2027
  • RIC Mar 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bridgewater State 17:1
  • RIC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bridgewater State
    • Education (17%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • RIC
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bridgewater State 52%
  • RIC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bridgewater State $45,700
  • RIC $42,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bridgewater State 64%
  • RIC 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bridgewater State $24,590
  • RIC $21,200
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bridgewater State $254
  • RIC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bridgewater State 39%
  • RIC 30%
  • % Women
  • Bridgewater State 61%
  • RIC 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bridgewater State Low
  • RIC Medium
  • HBCU
  • Bridgewater State No
  • RIC No
  • % White
  • Bridgewater State 78%
  • RIC 62%
  • % Asian
  • Bridgewater State 2%
  • RIC 3%
  • % Black
  • Bridgewater State 9%
  • RIC 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bridgewater State 6%
  • RIC 16%
  • % Native American
  • Bridgewater State 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bridgewater State 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bridgewater State 3%
  • RIC 2%
  • % International
  • Bridgewater State 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bridgewater State 1%
  • RIC 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bridgewater State 92%
  • RIC 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bridgewater State 8%
  • RIC 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA with Rhode Island College in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bridgewater State University is larger than RIC based on total student enrollment (9,727 students vs. 6,155 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bridgewater State University is located in Bridgewater, MA (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island College is in Providence, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Bridgewater State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bridgewater State University 17:1; Rhode Island College 15:1.

Bridgewater State vs. RIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bridgewater State or RIC? 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 Rhode Island College than Bridgewater State ($10,346 vs. $15,646).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island College are 12% lower than at Bridgewater State University ($13,414 vs. $15,247).
  • Bridgewater State University is 4.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIC (about $508 more per year; $11,808.00 vs. $11,300.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 52.1% higher at RIC than at Bridgewater State University (about $9,351 more per year; $27,299.00 vs. $17,948.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rhode Island College than at Bridgewater State University (95% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater State University students is 53.9% larger than aid received by Rhode Island College students ($10,318 vs. $6,706).

Bridgewater State vs. RIC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bridgewater State University (1160) is 160 points higher than at RIC (1000).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bridgewater State University 1060/1263; Rhode Island College 870/1120.
  • 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; RIC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bridgewater State Feb 15, 2027; RIC Mar 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Bridgewater State students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.21) than students at RIC (3.08).
  • RIC has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than Bridgewater State (87.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Bridgewater State vs. 23.1% at RIC.

Bridgewater State vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bridgewater State and RIC? 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 Rhode Island College's (44%).
  • Graduates from Bridgewater State University earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than RIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,700 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island College graduates have a $3,390 lower median loan debt than Bridgewater State graduates ($21,200 vs. $24,590).
  • Among borrowers, RIC graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bridgewater State graduates ($219 vs. $254).
  • More Bridgewater State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIC students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 59%)

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.