NSU vs. Bridgewater State

Should I go to Northwestern State University of Louisiana or Bridgewater State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NSU 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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Northwestern State University of Louisiana vs. Bridgewater State University comparison
Northwestern State University of Louisiana Bridgewater State University College 3 College 4
Northwestern State University of Louisiana Bridgewater State University
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Overview

 NSU Bridgewater State
Location Natchitoches, LA Bridgewater, MA
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 8,847 9,550
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #869 #643
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nsula.edu bridgew.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 NSU Bridgewater State
Tuition (In State) $5,180 $910
Tuition (Out of State) $15,968 $7,050
Room & Board $10,617 $14,586
Avg Net Price $13,156 $16,230
Avg Grant Aid $11,220 $8,911
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 72%

Admission

 NSU Bridgewater State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,194 8,631
Admitted 2,994 7,698
Acceptance Rate 93.7% 89.2%
Enrolled % 34.5% 20.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.21
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 18/27
SAT Range 925/1243 1040/1230
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 Feb 15, 2026

Academics

 NSU Bridgewater State
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

 NSU Bridgewater State
Graduation Rate 37% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,100 $45,700
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,531 $24,590
Median Loan Payment $222 $254

Diversity

 NSU Bridgewater State
% Men 2% 4%
% Women 8% 11%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 54% 78%
% Black 31% 9%
% Hispanic 5% 6%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 NSU Bridgewater State
% In-State 98% 90%
% Out-of-State 2% 9%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bridgewater State University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (9,550 students vs. 8,847 students)

NSU vs. Bridgewater State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or Bridgewater State?

  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana is 469.2% more expensive to attend than Bridgewater State for in-state tuition ($5,180.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 126.5% higher at NSU than Bridgewater State University ($15,968.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than Bridgewater State ($13,156 vs. $16,230)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana are 37.4% lower than costs at Bridgewater State University ($10,617 vs. $14,586)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than Bridgewater State University (94% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 25.9% larger than aid received Bridgewater State University ($11,220 vs. $8,911)

NSU vs. Bridgewater State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (1008) is 12 points higher than at Bridgewater State (996)
  • Incoming NSU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Bridgewater State (22)
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Bridgewater State (3.21)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.7%) than Bridgewater State (89.2%)

NSU vs. Bridgewater State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NSU 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 NSU.

  • The graduation rate at Bridgewater State is higher than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (52% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Bridgewater State University earn on average $7,600 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($45,700 vs. $38,100)
  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana students graduate with a $3,059 lower median federal student loan debt than Bridgewater State graduates. ($21,531 vs. $24,590)
  • NSU graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than Bridgewater State graduates. ($222 vs. $254)
  • More Bridgewater State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 46%)

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