Eastern vs. BC

Should I go to Eastern Kentucky University or Bridgewater College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Eastern or BC 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 Kentucky University vs. Bridgewater College comparison
Eastern Kentucky University Bridgewater College College 3 College 4
Eastern Kentucky University Bridgewater College
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Overview

 Eastern BC
Location Richmond, KY Bridgewater, VA
Setting Distant Town Small Suburban
Enrollment 14,324 1,421
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #854 #676
Religious Affiliation - Church of Brethren - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eku.edu bridgewater.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Eastern BC
Tuition (In State) $9,544 $38,800
Tuition (Out of State) $19,922 $38,800
Room & Board $10,360 $13,830
Avg Net Price $10,806 $19,332
Avg Grant Aid $10,583 $34,142
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

 Eastern BC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,821 3,402
Admitted 10,174 3,074
Acceptance Rate 64.3% 90.4%
Enrolled % 26.9% 13.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.61
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/24 22/28
SAT Range 940/1185 1020/1230
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 Aug 1, 2025 May 1, 2025

Academics

 Eastern BC
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

Outcomes

 Eastern BC
Graduation Rate 38% 59%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,900 $43,100
Making Student Loan Payments 49% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,695 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $245 $279

Diversity

 Eastern BC
% Men 39% 48%
% Women 61% 52%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 85% 73%
% Black 6% 11%
% Hispanic 2% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 4%

Students

 Eastern BC
% In-State 91% 73%
% Out-of-State 9% 24%

Campus

 Eastern BC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Eastern Kentucky University is larger than than BC based on total student enrollment (14,324 students vs. 1,421 students)

Eastern vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Eastern or BC?

  • Bridgewater College is 306.5% more expensive to attend than Eastern for in-state tuition ($38,800.00 vs. $9,544.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 94.8% higher at BC than Eastern Kentucky University ($38,800.00 vs. $19,922.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Kentucky University than BC ($10,806 vs. $19,332)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Kentucky University are 33.5% lower than costs at Bridgewater College ($10,360 vs. $13,830)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bridgewater College than Eastern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 222.6% larger than aid received Eastern Kentucky University ($34,142 vs. $10,583)

Eastern vs. BC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bridgewater College (1034) is 6 points higher than at Eastern (1028)
  • Incoming BC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Eastern (22)
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Eastern (3.39)
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than Eastern (64.3%)

Eastern vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Eastern or BC? 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 BC and Eastern.

  • The graduation rate at BC is higher than Eastern Kentucky University (59% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Bridgewater College earn on average $5,200 more per year than Eastern graduates after ten years. ($43,100 vs. $37,900)
  • Eastern Kentucky University students graduate with a $3,305 lower median federal student loan debt than BC graduates. ($23,695 vs. $27,000)
  • Eastern graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than BC graduates. ($245 vs. $279)
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Eastern students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 49%)

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