WCU vs. BC

Should I go to Western Carolina University or Bridgewater College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WCU or BC 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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Western Carolina University vs. Bridgewater College comparison
Western Carolina University Bridgewater College College 3 College 4
Western Carolina University Bridgewater College
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Overview

 WCU BC
Location Cullowhee, NC Bridgewater, VA
Setting Distant Town Small Suburban
Enrollment 11,635 1,421
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #763 #676
Religious Affiliation - Church of Brethren - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wcu.edu bridgewater.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WCU BC
Tuition (In State) $1,000 $38,800
Tuition (Out of State) $5,000 $38,800
Room & Board $11,173 $13,830
Avg Net Price $13,022 $19,332
Avg Grant Aid $4,526 $34,142
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

 WCU BC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,917 3,402
Admitted 15,201 3,074
Acceptance Rate 84.8% 90.4%
Enrolled % 12.7% 13.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.44 3.61
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26 22/28
SAT Range 1020/1240 1020/1230
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 Mar 1, 2025 May 1, 2025

Academics

 WCU BC
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

Outcomes

 WCU BC
Graduation Rate 50% 59%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,100 $43,100
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,010 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $227 $279

Diversity

 WCU BC
% Men 41% 48%
% Women 59% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 73%
% Black 6% 11%
% Hispanic 6% 5%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 4%

Students

 WCU BC
% In-State 80% 73%
% Out-of-State 18% 24%

Campus

 WCU BC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Carolina University is larger than than BC based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 1,421 students)

WCU vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WCU or BC?

  • Bridgewater College is 3,780% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($38,800.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 676% higher at BC than Western Carolina University ($38,800.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than BC ($13,022 vs. $19,332)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 23.8% lower than costs at Bridgewater College ($11,173 vs. $13,830)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bridgewater College than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 654.4% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($34,142 vs. $4,526)

WCU vs. BC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bridgewater College (1034) is 2 points higher than at WCU (1032)
  • Incoming BC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WCU (22)
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at WCU (3.44)
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than WCU (84.8%)

WCU vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WCU or BC? 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 BC and WCU.

  • The graduation rate at BC is higher than Western Carolina University (59% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Bridgewater College earn on average $4,000 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($43,100 vs. $39,100)
  • Western Carolina University students graduate with a $4,990 lower median federal student loan debt than BC graduates. ($22,010 vs. $27,000)
  • WCU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than BC graduates. ($227 vs. $279)
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 58%)

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