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Bridgewater, VA · Richmond, VA
| Bridgewater College | Virginia Union University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $17,800/yr | $13,235/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $13,283/yr | $11,424/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $26,000 | $29,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $12,468/yr | $12,372/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $15,046/yr | $14,420/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $20,582/yr | $21,362/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $21,448/yr | $18,301/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $276/mo | $307/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $14,850/yr | $11,016/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $17,015/yr | $14,580/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0.5% |
| Books & supplies | $1,005/yr | No data reported |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,578/yr | $8,144/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $58,702/yr | $29,075/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $16,090/yr | $17,450/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $16,090/yr | $17,450/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 30% | 69% |
| Students taking federal loans | 60% | 71% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 92% | 98% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1020–1360 | 850–885 |
| SAT average | 1180 | 850 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 3,984 | 2,771 |
| Students accepted | 3,618 | 2,708 |
| Students who enrolled | 429 | 415 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 12% | 15% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 10% | 10% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 1% | 0% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 53% | 34% |
| Freshmen who come back | 75% | 67% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $53,453/yr | $38,275/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $39,649–$72,917 | $22,194–$53,574 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 60% | 38% |
| White students graduating | 57% | No data reported |
| Black students graduating | 35% | 34% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 51% | 17% |
| Asian students graduating | 50% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $45,620/yr | $27,977/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 78% | 60% |
| Graduate on time | 45% | 25% |
| Pell students who graduate | 48% | 33% |
| First-gen students who finish | 56% | 28% |
| Low-income students who finish | 48% | 29% |
| Students who transfer out | No data reported | 35% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $50,239/yr | $35,235/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 26% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 16% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 10% | Business, Management & Marketing 23% · Social Sciences 16% · Psychology 9% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 26% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 23% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 16% of degrees | Social Sciences — 16% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees | Psychology — 9% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 8% of degrees | Public Administration & Social Service — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 7% of degrees | Military Technologies — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Computer Science — $58,440/yr | Computer and Information Sciences, General — $33,126/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 15% | 11% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,400 | 1,203 |
| Students per professor | 13 : 1 | 16 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 41 | 441 |
| Average professor pay | $7,326/mo | $5,874/mo |
| Full-time professors | 70% | 100% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $71,046 | $26,681 |
| Setting | Suburb (small) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Bridgewater, VA | Richmond, VA |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1880 | 1865 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 3.5% | 1.3% |
| Men | 53% | 48% |
| Women | 47% | 52% |
| White students | 66% | 0.6% |
| Black students | 11% | 75% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 7.5% | 1.3% |
| Asian students | 1.6% | 0.3% |
| Two or more races | 5.6% | 2.5% |
| Other / not reported | 4.9% | 19% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | HBCU · Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 32% | 41% |
| Part-time students | 0.3% | 5.6% |
| Students age 25+ | 0.4% | 17% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $8,750/yr | $5,548/yr |
| Endowment | $102.6M | $31.9M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,538 | 667 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | No data reported | $3,976/yr |
| Meal plan charge | No data reported | $5,576/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Church of Brethren | Baptist |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | No |
| ROTC | No | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | Yes | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | No | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | No |
| Credit for military training | No | No |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III with football | NCAA Division II with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 19 | 14 |
| Student athletes | 546 | 285 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $1.9M |
| Athletics budget | $4.9M | $4.0M |
| Athletics revenue | $4.9M | $4.8M |
| Recruiting spend | $105,874 | $30,046 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.