Rutgers vs. BC

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Bridgewater College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • BC Bridgewater, VA
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • BC Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • BC 1,448
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • BC #623
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • BC Church of Brethren
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • BC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • BC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • BC $16,090
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • BC $16,090
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • BC $14,850
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • BC $11,316
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • BC $47,288
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • BC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • BC 3,938
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • BC 3,612
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • BC 91.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • BC 10.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • BC 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • BC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • BC 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • BC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • BC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • BC
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • BC
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • BC 1020/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • BC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • BC May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • BC 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • BC
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • BC 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • BC $43,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • BC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • BC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • BC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • BC 52%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • BC 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • BC Low
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • BC No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • BC 73%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • BC 1%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • BC 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • BC 5%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • BC 5%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • BC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • BC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • BC 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • BC 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 1,448 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Bridgewater College is in Bridgewater, VA (Small Suburban setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bridgewater College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Bridgewater College 13:1.

Rutgers vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers ($11,316 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater College are 5.5% lower than at Rutgers University New Brunswick ($14,850 vs. $15,714).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 11.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than BC (about $1,839 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 132.7% higher at Rutgers than at Bridgewater College (about $21,351 more per year; $37,441.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (100% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 182.5% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($47,288 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. BC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 220 points higher than at BC (1190).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Bridgewater College 1020/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (91.7%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 10.1% at BC.

Rutgers vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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).

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Bridgewater College's (59%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $23,100 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $4,785 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($22,215 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($229 vs. $279).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 68%)

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.