CSU vs. BC

Deciding between Charleston Southern University and Bridgewater 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.

Charleston Southern University
Bridgewater College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CSU Charleston, SC
  • BC Bridgewater, VA
  • Setting
  • CSU Small City
  • BC Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • CSU 3,832
  • BC 1,448
  • Type
  • CSU Private 4 Year
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSU #952
  • BC #623
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSU Baptist
  • BC Church of Brethren
  • Status
  • CSU Non-profit
  • BC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSU
  • BC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSU $32,520
  • BC $16,090
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSU $32,520
  • BC $16,090
  • Room & Board
  • CSU $12,200
  • BC $14,850
  • Average Net Price
  • CSU $21,080
  • BC $11,316
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSU $23,240
  • BC $47,288
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSU 98%
  • BC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSU 4,660
  • BC 3,938
  • Admitted
  • CSU 4,495
  • BC 3,612
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSU 96.5%
  • BC 91.7%
  • Enrolled
  • CSU 17.7%
  • BC 10.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSU 1050
  • BC 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSU 21
  • BC
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSU 3.24
  • BC 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSU B+
  • BC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSU Very Easy
  • BC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSU
  • BC
  • ACT Range
  • CSU 18/24
  • BC
  • SAT Range
  • CSU 930/1160
  • BC 1020/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSU Test optional
  • BC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CSU
  • BC May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSU 12:1
  • BC 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • BC
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSU 38%
  • BC 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSU $39,800
  • BC $43,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSU 50%
  • BC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSU $27,000
  • BC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSU $279
  • BC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSU 37%
  • BC 52%
  • % Women
  • CSU 63%
  • BC 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSU Medium
  • BC Low
  • HBCU
  • CSU No
  • BC No
  • % White
  • CSU 61%
  • BC 73%
  • % Asian
  • CSU 2%
  • BC 1%
  • % Black
  • CSU 26%
  • BC 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSU 3%
  • BC 5%
  • % Native American
  • CSU 1%
  • BC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSU 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSU 2%
  • BC 5%
  • % International
  • CSU 1%
  • BC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSU 4%
  • BC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSU 71%
  • BC 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSU 28%
  • BC 19%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CSU Yes
  • BC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CSU No
  • BC No
  • Meal Plan
  • CSU Yes
  • BC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CSU Yes
  • BC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • CSU No
  • BC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Charleston Southern University in Charleston, SC with Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Charleston Southern University is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (3,832 students vs. 1,448 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Charleston Southern University is located in Charleston, SC (Small City setting); Bridgewater College is in Bridgewater, VA (Small Suburban setting).
  • Charleston Southern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bridgewater College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Charleston Southern University 12:1; Bridgewater College 13:1.

CSU vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or BC? 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 College than CSU ($11,316 vs. $21,080).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Charleston Southern University are 17.8% lower than at Bridgewater College ($12,200 vs. $14,850).
  • Charleston Southern University is 102.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than BC (about $16,430 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 102.1% higher at CSU than at Bridgewater College (about $16,430 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater College than at Charleston Southern University (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 103.5% larger than aid received by Charleston Southern University students ($47,288 vs. $23,240).

CSU vs. BC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or BC? 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 BC and CSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bridgewater College (1190) is 140 points higher than at CSU (1050).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Charleston Southern University 930/1160; Bridgewater College 1020/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Charleston Southern University 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at CSU (3.24).
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than BC (91.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at CSU vs. 10.1% at BC.

CSU vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and BC? 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 College's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Charleston Southern University's (38%).
  • Graduates from Bridgewater College earn a median of about $3,300 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,100 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bridgewater College and CSU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Bridgewater College and CSU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 50%)

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.