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Bridgewater , MA
Bridgewater State University is a public university located in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Established as a normal school in 1840, it has grown over the years to become one of Massachusetts' largest and leading comprehensive universities. The university offers a wide range of academic programs across various disciplines, including business, education, arts and sciences, and health sciences, among others. With a commitment to providing a supportive and inclusive learning environment, Bridgewater State University aims to prepare students for successful careers and engaged citizenship.
At Bridgewater State University, students have access to a vibrant campus life that fosters personal growth, leadership development, and community engagement. The university offers numerous student organizations and clubs, as well as opportunities for internships, research projects, and study abroad programs. Students can also take advantage of the state-of-the-art facilities, including a library with extensive resources, modern classrooms, and laboratories equipped with advanced technology.
With its dedicated faculty and staff, Bridgewater State University is committed to providing high-quality education that combines strong theoretical foundations with practical experiences. The university strives to create an inclusive and diverse community where students can thrive intellectually and socially. With its convenient location near Boston and Cape Cod, students also have access to a wide range of cultural, recreational, and professional opportunities beyond the campus, further enhancing their college experience.
Bridgewater State University is a public comprehensive higher education institution located in Bridgewater, MA and set in a suburban environment. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 89%. The freshman retention rate at Bridgewater State University is 67.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 55%.
Here are some latest information on important things to consider about Bridgewater State University.
Quick Facts
8,172
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
55%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the university's criteria for admission. What are the admission requirements for Bridgewater State University?
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 7,698 in 2024. Bridgewater State University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the student. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 11.3% and ACT scores 0.8%. 2.2% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 33.1% between 1,200 and 1,399, 48.9% between 1,000 and 1,199, 15.2% of the students between 800 and 999, and 0.6% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 15.4, 23.1 between 24-29, 38.5 in the range between 18-23, and 23.1 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2024 was 22 and the average GPA was 3.35. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Bridgewater State University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 565 and an average SAT Math score of 553.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Bridgewater State University was 67.9% in 2024.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 55%.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the best place for you is not a simple task. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better idea of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the school had an enrollment of 9,550 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 7.9% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 8,172, 32 of which were international students. The school admitted a total of 702 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 2,892 male and 4,152 female full-time students in 2024. This school had 94 full-time graduate male and 390 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2024, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 175, and the number of Afro-American students was 840. 802 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 527 as multirace. The school also had 3 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 7 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 43 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to consider is the approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to spend about $1,200 for books and supplies during their time at Bridgewater State University.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2024, the price of room and board at Bridgewater State University was $15,805 per academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Room and Board | $ 15,805 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial support in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for completing your studies. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Bridgewater State University, here are some recent data you should consider.
According to the most recent data, 1,037 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $13,598.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 3,536 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Bridgewater State University isn't available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 4,020. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $14,253,686, and state $21,084,445.
$5,218
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 1,663 students overall (including freshmen) at Bridgewater State University in 2024. 635 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $14,253,686 while the state aid is $141,452. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $10,945,750. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,179,382 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Bridgewater State University was 17:1: that means 17 students per one teacher. The faculty of this school consists of 760 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 323 men and 437 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Bridgewater State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Bridgewater State University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some information about campus life at Bridgewater State University.
It has a campus size of 278 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 89 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. That includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 4.6 and female students 4.7. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Student Theatre Association, followed by Program Council and BSU Chapter of the Student Education Association of MA. Other popular organizations among the students at Bridgewater State University are Environmental Action Team and Bears Who Care.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For individuals with an interest in media and communication, Bridgewater State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Bridgewater State University, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Bridgewater State University.
All in all, campus life at Bridgewater State University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Bridgewater State University.
Career Counselling
At Bridgewater State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Bridgewater State University is located in Bridgewater, MA.
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Bridgewater State University doesn't offer need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Bridgewater State University is 89%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Bridgewater State University is 67.9%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.