Bridgewater State vs. UMass

Comparable Facts

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

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than Bridgewater State based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 9,727 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bridgewater State University is located in Bridgewater, MA (Large Suburban setting); University of Massachusetts Amherst is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
• Bridgewater State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bridgewater State University 17:1; University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1.

Bridgewater State vs. UMass Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bridgewater State or UMass? 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 UMass ($15,646 vs. $22,948).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater State University are 8.8% lower than at University of Massachusetts Amherst ($15,247 vs. $16,710).
• University of Massachusetts Amherst is 50.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bridgewater State (about $5,964 more per year; $17,772.00 vs. $11,808.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 125.4% higher at UMass than at Bridgewater State University (about $22,501 more per year; $40,449.00 vs. $17,948.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater State University than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (86% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students is 27.1% larger than aid received by Bridgewater State University students ($13,110 vs. $10,318).

Bridgewater State vs. UMass Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bridgewater State or UMass? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UMass and Bridgewater State.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1410) is 250 points higher than at Bridgewater State (1160).
• Incoming UMass students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (31 vs. 27 at Bridgewater State).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Bridgewater State University 1060/1263; University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Bridgewater State University 25/30; University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bridgewater State - Test optional; UMass - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bridgewater State Feb 15, 2027; UMass Jan 15, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman UMass students have a 0.78 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Bridgewater State (3.21).
• Bridgewater State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than UMass (59.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Bridgewater State vs. 17.9% at UMass.

Bridgewater State vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bridgewater State and UMass? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• University of Massachusetts Amherst's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Bridgewater State University's (52%).
• Graduates from University of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than Bridgewater State graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,200 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Massachusetts Amherst graduates have a $590 lower median loan debt than Bridgewater State graduates ($24,000 vs. $24,590).
• Among borrowers, UMass graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bridgewater State graduates ($248 vs. $254).
• More UMass graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bridgewater State students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.