Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, MA · NortheastQuad's selectivityAccessible

Known forTest-optional heavy

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Bridgewater State admits about 9 in 10 applicants (88%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 28% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

88%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

9,096

Admitted

7,987

Yield

19%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1060–1263

10001600

ACT middle 50%

25–30

1836

Applications +57% since fall 2014 · admit rate 79% → 88%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 7,829 undergrads, where 32% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

7.8K

undergrads · larger than 86% of colleges

Diversity index

0.52

Pell Grant

32%

about the median

First generation

34%

about the median

Large suburbNCAA D-III · Massachusetts State College Athletic AssociationROTCStudy abroad

More diverse · index 0.37 → 0.52 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Psychology, General (13% of graduates). 17 students for every faculty member, more than at 78% of colleges. 100% of faculty are full-time. Spends $11,273 a year on instruction per student.

17 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 78% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $21,837 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $2.4K less than the national median. The 86% who received grants paid $15,646 on average; the other 14% paid the full sticker price of $30,145 in-state / $36,285 out-of-state.

29%

$21.8K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $2.4K below the national median

Full price, in-state: $30,145 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 29% of full price

Federal loans

75%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −16% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $57,466 ten years after enrolling, more than at 61% of colleges; 62% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.5 years of that salary.

62%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$57.5K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$24.3K

≈ $257/month for 10 years

Retention

75%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 59% → 53% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price held about steady after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 16%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 57% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 79% to 88%.

Cost
Falling
−16% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+57%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 79% → 88%
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.37 → 0.52

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Oakland University

88% admit · SAT 1130 · 12.4K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

89% admit · SAT 1175 · 6.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Ball State University

86% admit · SAT 1170 · 14K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Youngstown State University

84% admit · SAT 1120 · 8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
Bridgewater State University (2026)
Bridgewater State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 165024 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything