Bridgewater College
#9 Best Business Colleges in Virginia- Graduation Rate
- 51% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $53,453 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $17,800 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 92% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 18.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.2 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Best Business Colleges in Virginia.
Every $1 spent returns $18.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,222,648.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 31% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $18.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Bridgewater College Matters
Bridgewater College is a private liberal arts college in Bridgewater, VA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,400
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- 58
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Visual & Performing Arts, Psychology
Why students choose Bridgewater College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 92% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1020–1360. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,800 a year after grants and scholarships — 4% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $53,453 ten years after enrolling — 31% above the typical college, against $26,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 78% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.67 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 92%, Bridgewater College is a welcoming option for students seeking a supportive environment. It’s a great fit for those interested in pursuing degrees in Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts, Biology & Biomedical, Social Sciences, or Psychology. The smaller enrollment of around 1,400 allows for more personalized attention, which can be a significant advantage for students looking to thrive academically and socially.
Graduates from Bridgewater can expect to earn an average of $53,453 a decade after finishing their studies. While the graduation rate sits at 51%, it’s essential to consider that many students here are taking the time they need to complete their degrees. Affordability is a critical factor, with a net price of $17,800 after aid, making it accessible for a broad range of students. This is particularly relevant for the 30% of students who rely on Pell Grants, indicating that financial support is available for those who need it.
In terms of practicalities, the median debt for graduates stands at $26,000, which is manageable for many, especially considering the earning potential. Bridgewater tends to attract students who value a close-knit community and a variety of academic pathways. Those who thrive here are often those who appreciate a more intimate learning environment and are looking to engage deeply with their studies and peers.
Rankings
- #9 Best Business Colleges in Virginia
- #9 Best Communications Colleges in Virginia
- #18 Best Bachelor's Programs in Virginia
- #18 Best Master's Programs in Virginia
- #18 Best Computer Science Colleges in Virginia
- #18 Best Biology Colleges in Virginia
- #18 Best Data Science Colleges in Virginia
- #22 Best Colleges in Virginia
Can I Get In?
How selective Bridgewater College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bridgewater College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Bridgewater, Virginia, Bridgewater College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 92%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,180. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 92%
- Retention Rate
- 75%
- SAT Average
- 1180
- ACT Midpoint
- 25
- SAT Range
- 1020–1360
- Full-Time Faculty
- 70%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,326
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.54
- First-Gen Students
- 32%
- Applicants
- 3,402
- Admitted
- 3,074
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bridgewater College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bridgewater College is $16,090, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,800. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,283 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $16,090
- Out-of-State
- $16,090
- Avg Net Price
- $17,800
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 30%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 60%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $13,283
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,468
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $15,046
- Family Income $110K+
- $21,448
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Bridgewater College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Bridgewater College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bridgewater College earn a median of $53,453, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $45,620
- 8 Years
- $50,239
- 10 Years
- $53,453
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.49x
- Earning > $25K
- 68%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (278)
- 57%
- 100% (278)
- 57%
- 100% (278)
- 57%
- 100% (278)
- 57%
How Bridgewater Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Bridgewater College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Bridgewater College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,800/year ($71,200 total). Graduates earn $53,453 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,293,848 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,222,648 (18.2× your investment). The median debt is $26,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 51% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $71,200
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,293,848
- Net Return
- $1,222,648
- ROI Multiple
- 18.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,800
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 51%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Bridgewater College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Bridgewater College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.98%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.98%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 16.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $124,045
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,250,923
- Investment Income
- $-18,600,520
Top Programs
The fields Bridgewater College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 26% $50,714 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 10% $31,312 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 8%
- Psychology 7% $36,562 early-career
- Humanities 7% $46,778 early-career
- Social Sciences 4% $41,167 early-career
- Communications 4% $35,271 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Bridgewater College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bridgewater College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Bridgewater, Virginia, Bridgewater College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 92%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,180. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bridgewater College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bridgewater College is $16,090, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,800. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,283 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
Is Bridgewater College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bridgewater College earn a median of $53,453, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Bridgewater College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Bridgewater College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.98%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Bridgewater College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Bridgewater College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.67, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Bridgewater College.
- Concordia University-ChicagoRiver Forest, IL · Close peer41% grad $54,089 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Montana Technological UniversityButte, MT · Close peer58% grad $54,329 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Carson-Newman UniversityJefferson City, TN · Close peer50% grad $48,382 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Saint Francis-Fort WayneFort Wayne, IN · Close peer58% grad $55,362 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Hardin-Simmons UniversityAbilene, TX · Close peer48% grad $54,771 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of DubuqueDubuque, IA · Close peer41% grad $51,190 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Bridgewater College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Bridgewater College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.67, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note