Penn State Brandywine vs. BC

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Brandywine in Media, PA with Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bridgewater College is larger than Penn State Brandywine based on total student enrollment (1,448 students vs. 1,236 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Brandywine is located in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting); Bridgewater College is in Bridgewater, VA (Small Suburban setting).
• Penn State Brandywine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bridgewater College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Brandywine 15:1; Bridgewater College 13:1.

Penn State Brandywine vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Brandywine 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 Penn State Brandywine ($11,316 vs. $22,710).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Brandywine are 2.5% lower than at Bridgewater College ($14,474 vs. $14,850).
• Bridgewater College is 5.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Brandywine (about $882 more per year; $16,090.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 57.8% higher at Penn State Brandywine than at Bridgewater College (about $9,302 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $16,090.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater College than at Penn State Brandywine (100% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 418.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($47,288 vs. $9,113).

Penn State Brandywine vs. BC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Brandywine 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 Penn State Brandywine.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Brandywine (1200) is 10 points higher than at BC (1190).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310; Bridgewater College 1020/1360.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Brandywine - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: BC May 1, 2027.
• Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than BC (91.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine vs. 10.1% at BC.

Penn State Brandywine vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Brandywine 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 Penn State Brandywine's (37%).
• Graduates from Penn State Brandywine earn a median of about $12,200 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Brandywine graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Brandywine graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Brandywine students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 69%)

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.