UofSC vs. BC

Deciding between University of South Carolina Columbia 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.

University of South Carolina Columbia
Bridgewater College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UofSC Columbia, SC
  • BC Bridgewater, VA
  • Setting
  • UofSC Midsize City
  • BC Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UofSC 38,532
  • BC 1,448
  • Type
  • UofSC Public 4 Year
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UofSC #220
  • BC #623
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UofSC -
  • BC Church of Brethren
  • Status
  • UofSC Non-profit
  • BC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UofSC
  • BC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UofSC $12,688
  • BC $16,090
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UofSC $35,972
  • BC $16,090
  • Room & Board
  • UofSC $13,534
  • BC $14,850
  • Average Net Price
  • UofSC $24,488
  • BC $11,316
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UofSC $7,139
  • BC $47,288
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UofSC 91%
  • BC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UofSC 52,703
  • BC 3,938
  • Admitted
  • UofSC 31,701
  • BC 3,612
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UofSC 60.2%
  • BC 91.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UofSC 22.9%
  • BC 10.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UofSC 1270
  • BC 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • UofSC 29
  • BC
  • Average High School GPA
  • UofSC 3.69
  • BC 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UofSC A-
  • BC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UofSC Very High
  • BC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UofSC Low
  • BC
  • ACT Range
  • UofSC 26/32
  • BC
  • SAT Range
  • UofSC 1180/1360
  • BC 1020/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UofSC Test optional
  • BC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UofSC Dec 1, 2026
  • BC May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UofSC 19:1
  • BC 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UofSC
    • Business (35%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • BC
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UofSC 70%
  • BC 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UofSC $51,700
  • BC $43,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UofSC 69%
  • BC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UofSC $23,250
  • BC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UofSC $240
  • BC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UofSC 40%
  • BC 52%
  • % Women
  • UofSC 60%
  • BC 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UofSC Low
  • BC Low
  • HBCU
  • UofSC No
  • BC No
  • % White
  • UofSC 77%
  • BC 73%
  • % Asian
  • UofSC 3%
  • BC 1%
  • % Black
  • UofSC 10%
  • BC 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • UofSC 4%
  • BC 5%
  • % Native American
  • UofSC 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UofSC 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UofSC 4%
  • BC 5%
  • % International
  • UofSC 1%
  • BC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UofSC 1%
  • BC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UofSC 54%
  • BC 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UofSC 45%
  • BC 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of South Carolina Columbia in Columbia, SC with Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of South Carolina Columbia is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (38,532 students vs. 1,448 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of South Carolina Columbia is located in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting); Bridgewater College is in Bridgewater, VA (Small Suburban setting).
  • University of South Carolina Columbia is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bridgewater College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of South Carolina Columbia 19:1; Bridgewater College 13:1.

UofSC vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UofSC 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 UofSC ($11,316 vs. $24,488).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 8.9% lower than at Bridgewater College ($13,534 vs. $14,850).
  • Bridgewater College is 26.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UofSC (about $3,402 more per year; $16,090.00 vs. $12,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 123.6% higher at UofSC than at Bridgewater College (about $19,882 more per year; $35,972.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater College than at University of South Carolina Columbia (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 562.4% larger than aid received by University of South Carolina Columbia students ($47,288 vs. $7,139).

UofSC vs. BC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UofSC 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 UofSC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of South Carolina Columbia (1270) is 80 points higher than at BC (1190).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of South Carolina Columbia 1180/1360; Bridgewater College 1020/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of South Carolina Columbia 26/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UofSC - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UofSC Dec 1, 2026; BC May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UofSC students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at BC (3.61).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (91.7%) than UofSC (60.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.9% at UofSC vs. 10.1% at BC.

UofSC vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UofSC 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).

  • University of South Carolina Columbia's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Bridgewater College's (59%).
  • Graduates from University of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,700 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of South Carolina Columbia graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UofSC graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($240 vs. $279).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UofSC 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.