What is the acceptance rate at Bridgewater State University?

Bridgewater State University's acceptance rate is approximately 88% (Bridgewater, MA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

What SAT score do you need for Bridgewater State University?

Admitted students at Bridgewater State University typically score 1060–1263 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

How much does Bridgewater State University cost?

At Bridgewater State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $16,383 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Bridgewater State University?

Bridgewater State University enrolls approximately 7,829 undergraduate students.

Where is Bridgewater State University located?

Bridgewater State University is located in Bridgewater, MA.

Bridgewater State University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, MApublicwww.bridgew.edu/

Acceptance

88%

SAT 25–75

1060–1263

Avg net price

$16,383

Earnings (10 yr)

$57,466

Graduation rate

53%

Admit rate has ranged 82%–89% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Bridgewater State University is a public Massachusetts institution where nearly 90% of applicants get in, but where the real draw is its practical, career-focused education at a bargain price. With over 100 majors, a strong emphasis on keeping graduates in-state (85% stay local), and a campus life that punches above its weight for a commuter-heavy school, BSU delivers solid value—especially for future teachers, business professionals, and psychologists, its most popular majors.

Admission requirements

Test-optional — scores considered if submitted

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)

Considered (not required)

Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 7,829
In-state tuition: $11,808
Out-of-state tuition: $17,948
Top Majors: Business, Education, Psychology
Acceptance Rate: 87-89%
On-Campus Housing: 40% of students
Six-Year Grad Rate: 55-62%
Student-Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Median Alumni Earnings: $59,669

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $57,466
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 3.5×
Median debt at graduation: $24,286
Graduation rate: 53%
First-year retention: 75%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 64%
Pell (lower-income) share: 50%
First-generation share: 34%
Endowment / student: $9,756

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Computer Science$60,623
Accounting and Related Services$46,869
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$44,371
Chemistry$44,170
Mathematics$44,077
Economics$43,426
Air Transportation

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 15
Per 1,000 students: 1.92

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 91
Summer high: 81°F
Winter low: 26°F
Annual rain: 51.9"
Annual snow: 28.3"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively Moderate

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 101
Scholarly works: 3,162

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 1.3%
Bottom → top quintile: 28%
From bottom quintile: 5%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at Bridgewater State University?: Bridgewater State University's acceptance rate is approximately 88% (Bridgewater, MA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Bridgewater State University?: Admitted students at Bridgewater State University typically score 1060–1263 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Bridgewater State University cost?: At Bridgewater State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $16,383 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Bridgewater State University?: Bridgewater State University enrolls approximately 7,829 undergraduate students.
Where is Bridgewater State University located?: Bridgewater State University is located in Bridgewater, MA.

Admissions

Getting into Bridgewater State isn't the hard part—the school admits nearly 90% of applicants (89.2% according to PrepScholar, 87.8% per College Board). What's surprising is how many of those admitted actually enroll: just 27% of accepted students (2,826 out of 10,490 in recent data), suggesting BSU is often a safety school for applicants aiming higher. The middle 50% SAT range falls between 1060-1260 (Niche) or 1090-1260 (College Board), with ACT scores clustering around 25-30. Notably, BSU is —applicants can choose whether to submit SAT/ACT scores. About 29% of enrolled students had GPAs of 3.75 or higher, while 12% fell in the 3.50-3.74 range.

prepscholar.com bigfuture.collegeboard.org bridgew.edu niche.com bridgew.edu

Academics

BSU offers over 100 academic programs (a point the website emphasizes repeatedly), with business, education, psychology, and health professions dominating student choices. The student-faculty ratio is a manageable 17:1 (US News), though some sources cite a slightly less favorable 19:1. The curriculum leans practical—this isn't a liberal arts powerhouse, but a place where career preparation takes center stage. Unique offerings include photonics and optical engineering, Portuguese, and pre-law tracks alongside more conventional majors. The honors program provides a pathway for high-achievers, while research opportunities exist but aren't the school's primary selling point.