NC State vs. BC

Deciding between North Carolina State University at Raleigh 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.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Bridgewater College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • BC Bridgewater, VA
  • Setting
  • NC State Large City
  • BC Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • NC State 38,464
  • BC 1,448
  • Type
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NC State #124
  • BC #623
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NC State -
  • BC Church of Brethren
  • Status
  • NC State Non-profit
  • BC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NC State
  • BC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NC State $8,799
  • BC $16,090
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NC State $32,847
  • BC $16,090
  • Room & Board
  • NC State $14,332
  • BC $14,850
  • Average Net Price
  • NC State $15,522
  • BC $11,316
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NC State $11,675
  • BC $47,288
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NC State 51%
  • BC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NC State 44,047
  • BC 3,938
  • Admitted
  • NC State 18,385
  • BC 3,612
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NC State 41.7%
  • BC 91.7%
  • Enrolled
  • NC State 31.8%
  • BC 10.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NC State 1390
  • BC 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • NC State 30
  • BC
  • Average High School GPA
  • NC State 3.83
  • BC 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NC State A-
  • BC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • NC State Very High
  • BC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • NC State Low
  • BC
  • ACT Range
  • NC State 28/32
  • BC
  • SAT Range
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • BC 1020/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NC State Test optional
  • BC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027
  • BC May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NC State 15:1
  • BC 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
  • BC
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NC State 72%
  • BC 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NC State $57,200
  • BC $43,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NC State 76%
  • BC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NC State $20,782
  • BC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NC State $214
  • BC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NC State 50%
  • BC 52%
  • % Women
  • NC State 50%
  • BC 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NC State Low
  • BC Low
  • HBCU
  • NC State No
  • BC No
  • % White
  • NC State 74%
  • BC 73%
  • % Asian
  • NC State 5%
  • BC 1%
  • % Black
  • NC State 6%
  • BC 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • NC State 5%
  • BC 5%
  • % Native American
  • NC State 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NC State 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NC State 4%
  • BC 5%
  • % International
  • NC State 4%
  • BC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NC State 2%
  • BC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NC State 86%
  • BC 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NC State 12%
  • BC 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC with Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (38,464 students vs. 1,448 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is located in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting); Bridgewater College is in Bridgewater, VA (Small Suburban setting).
  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bridgewater College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1; Bridgewater College 13:1.

NC State vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NC State 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 NC State ($11,316 vs. $15,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 3.5% lower than at Bridgewater College ($14,332 vs. $14,850).
  • Bridgewater College is 82.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $7,291 more per year; $16,090.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 104.1% higher at NC State than at Bridgewater College (about $16,757 more per year; $32,847.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater College than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (100% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 305% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($47,288 vs. $11,675).

NC State vs. BC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NC State 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 NC State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1390) is 200 points higher than at BC (1190).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470; Bridgewater College 1020/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NC State - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NC State Jan 15, 2027; BC May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at BC (3.61).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (91.7%) than NC State (41.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.8% at NC State vs. 10.1% at BC.

NC State vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NC State 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).

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Bridgewater College's (59%).
  • Graduates from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn a median of about $14,100 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,200 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates have a $6,218 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($20,782 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, NC State graduates have an estimated $65 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($214 vs. $279).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 76%)

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.