Western State Colorado University vs. Bridgewater State

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

Western State Colorado University Bridgewater State
Location Gunnison, CO Bridgewater, MA
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,053 9,550
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #757 #643
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website western.edu bridgew.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Western State Colorado University Bridgewater State
Tuition (In State) $7,128 $910
Tuition (Out of State) $19,728 $7,050
Room & Board $10,442 $14,586
Avg Net Price $17,709 $16,230
Avg Grant Aid $7,169 $8,911
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 72%

Admission

Western State Colorado University Bridgewater State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,283 8,631
Admitted 3,200 7,698
Acceptance Rate 97.5% 89.2%
Enrolled % 13.2% 20.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.21
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 18/27
SAT Range 1000/1240 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

Western State Colorado University Bridgewater State
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

Western State Colorado University Bridgewater State
Graduation Rate 39% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,800 $45,700
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $24,590
Median Loan Payment $222 $254

Diversity

Western State Colorado University Bridgewater State
% Men 4% 4%
% Women 8% 11%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 75% 78%
% Black 3% 9%
% Hispanic 10% 6%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 6% 1%

Students

Western State Colorado University Bridgewater State
% In-State 72% 90%
% Out-of-State 27% 9%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bridgewater State University is larger than than Western State Colorado University based on total student enrollment (9,550 students vs. 4,053 students)

Western State Colorado University vs. Bridgewater State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Western State Colorado University or Bridgewater State?

  • Western State Colorado University is 683.3% more expensive to attend than Bridgewater State for in-state tuition ($7,128.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 179.8% higher at Western State Colorado University than Bridgewater State University ($19,728.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bridgewater State University than Western State Colorado University ($16,230 vs. $17,709)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western State Colorado University are 39.7% lower than costs at Bridgewater State University ($10,442 vs. $14,586)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western State Colorado University than Bridgewater State University (92% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater State University students is 24.3% larger than aid received Western State Colorado University ($8,911 vs. $7,169)

Western State Colorado University vs. Bridgewater State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bridgewater State University (996) is 32 points higher than at Western State Colorado University (964)
  • Incoming Bridgewater State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Western State Colorado University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Western State Colorado University students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Bridgewater State (3.21)
  • Western State Colorado University has a higher acceptance rate (97.5%) than Bridgewater State (89.2%)

Western State Colorado University vs. Bridgewater State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Western State Colorado University 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 Western State Colorado University.

  • The graduation rate at Bridgewater State is higher than Western State Colorado University (52% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Bridgewater State University earn on average $4,900 more per year than Western State Colorado University graduates after ten years. ($45,700 vs. $40,800)
  • Western State Colorado University students graduate with a $3,090 lower median federal student loan debt than Bridgewater State graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,590)
  • Western State Colorado University 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 Western State Colorado University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 61%)

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