ECSU vs. Bridgewater State

Should I go to Eastern Connecticut State University or Bridgewater State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ECSU or Bridgewater State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Eastern Connecticut State University vs. Bridgewater State University comparison
Eastern Connecticut State University Bridgewater State University College 3 College 4
Eastern Connecticut State University Bridgewater State University
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Overview

 ECSU Bridgewater State
Location Willimantic, CT Bridgewater, MA
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,082 9,604
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #432 #674
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website easternct.edu bridgew.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 ECSU Bridgewater State
Tuition (In State) $6,470 $910
Tuition (Out of State) $9,706 $7,050
Room & Board $16,106 $14,162
Avg Net Price $18,628 $17,225
Avg Grant Aid $10,993 $8,616
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 82%

Admission

 ECSU Bridgewater State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,488 8,807
Admitted 4,052 7,725
Acceptance Rate 73.8% 87.7%
Enrolled % 17.7% 20.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.21
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/28 19/25
SAT Range 980/1190 1030/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 15, 2025

Academics

 ECSU Bridgewater State
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

 ECSU Bridgewater State
Graduation Rate 49% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,400 $45,700
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $24,590
Median Loan Payment $237 $254

Diversity

 ECSU Bridgewater State
% Men 40% 39%
% Women 60% 61%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 78%
% Black 7% 9%
% Hispanic 10% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 9% 1%

Students

 ECSU Bridgewater State
% In-State 87% 93%
% Out-of-State 13% 7%

Campus

 ECSU Bridgewater State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bridgewater State University is larger than than ECSU based on total student enrollment (9,604 students vs. 4,082 students)

ECSU vs. Bridgewater State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECSU or Bridgewater State?

  • Eastern Connecticut State University is 611% more expensive to attend than Bridgewater State for in-state tuition ($6,470.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 37.7% higher at ECSU than Bridgewater State University ($9,706.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bridgewater State University than ECSU ($17,225 vs. $18,628)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater State University are 13.7% lower than costs at Eastern Connecticut State University ($14,162 vs. $16,106)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Connecticut State University than Bridgewater State University (100% vs. 82%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Connecticut State University students is 27.6% larger than aid received Bridgewater State University ($10,993 vs. $8,616)

ECSU vs. Bridgewater State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECSU or Bridgewater State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bridgewater State or ECSU .

  • Accepted freshman ECSU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Bridgewater State (3.21)
  • Bridgewater State has a higher acceptance rate (87.7%) than ECSU (73.8%)

ECSU vs. Bridgewater State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ECSU or Bridgewater State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Bridgewater State and ECSU.

  • The graduation rate at Bridgewater State is higher than Eastern Connecticut State University (52% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from Eastern Connecticut State University earn on average $700 more per year than Bridgewater State graduates after ten years. ($46,400 vs. $45,700)
  • Eastern Connecticut State University students graduate with a $1,590 lower median federal student loan debt than Bridgewater State graduates. ($23,000 vs. $24,590)
  • ECSU graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than Bridgewater State graduates. ($237 vs. $254)
  • More ECSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bridgewater State students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 64%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/