Bridgewater State vs. URI

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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bridgewater State Bridgewater, MA
  • URI Kingston, RI
  • Setting
  • Bridgewater State Large Suburban
  • URI Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Bridgewater State 9,727
  • URI 17,210
  • Type
  • Bridgewater State Public 4 Year
  • URI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bridgewater State #553
  • URI #425
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bridgewater State -
  • URI -
  • Status
  • Bridgewater State Non-profit
  • URI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bridgewater State
  • URI
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bridgewater State $11,808
  • URI $16,942
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bridgewater State $17,948
  • URI $37,146
  • Room & Board
  • Bridgewater State $15,247
  • URI $15,607
  • Average Net Price
  • Bridgewater State $15,646
  • URI $24,118
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bridgewater State $10,318
  • URI $12,578
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bridgewater State 86%
  • URI 96%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bridgewater State 9,096
  • URI 26,987
  • Admitted
  • Bridgewater State 7,987
  • URI 19,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bridgewater State 87.8%
  • URI 72.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Bridgewater State 19.4%
  • URI 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bridgewater State 1160
  • URI 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bridgewater State 27
  • URI
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bridgewater State 3.21
  • URI 3.58
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bridgewater State B+
  • URI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bridgewater State Challenging
  • URI Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bridgewater State
  • URI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Bridgewater State 25/30
  • URI
  • SAT Range
  • Bridgewater State 1060/1263
  • URI 1020/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bridgewater State Test optional
  • URI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bridgewater State Feb 15, 2027
  • URI Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bridgewater State 17:1
  • URI 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bridgewater State
    • Education (17%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • URI
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bridgewater State 52%
  • URI 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bridgewater State $45,700
  • URI $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bridgewater State 64%
  • URI 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bridgewater State $24,590
  • URI $23,438
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bridgewater State $254
  • URI $242
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bridgewater State 39%
  • URI 41%
  • % Women
  • Bridgewater State 61%
  • URI 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bridgewater State Low
  • URI Low
  • HBCU
  • Bridgewater State No
  • URI No
  • % White
  • Bridgewater State 78%
  • URI 71%
  • % Asian
  • Bridgewater State 2%
  • URI 3%
  • % Black
  • Bridgewater State 9%
  • URI 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bridgewater State 6%
  • URI 9%
  • % Native American
  • Bridgewater State 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bridgewater State 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bridgewater State 3%
  • URI 3%
  • % International
  • Bridgewater State 0%
  • URI 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bridgewater State 1%
  • URI 7%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bridgewater State 92%
  • URI 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bridgewater State 8%
  • URI 57%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Rhode Island is larger than Bridgewater State based on total student enrollment (17,210 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 Rhode Island is in Kingston, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Bridgewater State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rhode Island is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bridgewater State University 17:1; University of Rhode Island 17:1.

Bridgewater State vs. URI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bridgewater State or URI? 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 URI ($15,646 vs. $24,118).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater State University are 2.3% lower than at University of Rhode Island ($15,247 vs. $15,607).
  • University of Rhode Island is 43.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bridgewater State (about $5,134 more per year; $16,942.00 vs. $11,808.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 107% higher at URI than at Bridgewater State University (about $19,198 more per year; $37,146.00 vs. $17,948.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rhode Island than at Bridgewater State University (96% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rhode Island students is 21.9% larger than aid received by Bridgewater State University students ($12,578 vs. $10,318).

Bridgewater State vs. URI Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bridgewater State University (1160) is 10 points higher than at URI (1150).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bridgewater State University 1060/1263; University of Rhode Island 1020/1280.
  • 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; URI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bridgewater State Feb 15, 2027; URI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman URI students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Bridgewater State (3.21).
  • Bridgewater State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than URI (72.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Bridgewater State vs. 15.4% at URI.

Bridgewater State vs. URI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bridgewater State and URI? 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).

  • University of Rhode Island's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Bridgewater State University's (52%).
  • Graduates from University of Rhode Island earn a median of about $10,500 more per year than Bridgewater State graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Rhode Island graduates have a $1,152 lower median loan debt than Bridgewater State graduates ($23,438 vs. $24,590).
  • Among borrowers, URI graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bridgewater State graduates ($242 vs. $254).
  • More URI 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.