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Economic score
Bridgewater College is a private liberal arts college located in Bridgewater, Virginia. Bridgewater College is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Bridgewater College is in the bottom 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $48,160 10 years after enrolling, 22nd in Virginia, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Bridgewater College bachelor students earn 2% less than the national average. Bridgewater College is ranked 16th in Virginia.
Bridgewater College’s median net annual cost of $20,457 and average years to graduate of 4.2 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Bridgewater College sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Health & Fitness, Biology, Psychology, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Natural Resource Conservation - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$20,457
Average years to graduate
4.2
History
Rank: #140
Economic score: 5.34
English Language & Lit
Rank: #120
Economic score: 5.42
Fine & Studio Arts
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 5.96
Information Systems Mgmt.
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 6.37
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #412
Economic score: 10.5
Sociology
Rank: #289
Economic score: 10.83
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 11.71
Physics
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 28.48
Consumer Sciences
Rank: #30
Economic score: 45.39
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.2 years. 61% of all students graduate within 8 years. The graduation rate at Bridgewater College is 2% lower than the state average, and 8% below the average for all liberal arts colleges in the country.
At Bridgewater College, Pell Grant recipients represent 30% of the measured graduating class, 5% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Bridgewater College graduates within 4.3 years.
Bridgewater College is in the bottom 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Bridgewater College’s economic mobility score of 15.8 is calculated by adjusting the 3.49 economic score of lower-income students by the 30% pell grant recipients within the student body. Bridgewater College’s EMS of 15.8 ranks in the top 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Bridgewater College pays $20,457 a year, $34,053 less than the $54,510 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $20,457
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Bridgewater College, 100% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $20,457 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 67% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,923. This is 13% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,510
Pell grants
$4,838
State grants
$3,520
Institutional grants
$28,026
Bridgewater College's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 75% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 3,388 applicants, of which 2,544 were admitted and 398 enrolled. Bridgewater College has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
52%
59%
First time
88%
59%
In-state
73%
68%
1st generation
32%
35%
White
64%
52%
Black
15%
14%
Hispanic
8%
15%
Asian
1%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
11%
12%