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Bridgewater, VA · Virginia Beach, VA
| Bridgewater College | Virginia Wesleyan University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $17,800/yr | $19,676/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $13,283/yr | $14,080/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $26,000 | $27,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $12,468/yr | $17,108/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $15,046/yr | $15,967/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $20,582/yr | $22,603/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $21,448/yr | $24,782/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $276/mo | $286/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $14,850/yr | $11,930/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $17,015/yr | $11,930/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,005/yr | $1,500/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,578/yr | $3,100/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $58,702/yr | $51,255/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $16,090/yr | $37,500/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $16,090/yr | $37,500/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 30% | 27% |
| Students taking federal loans | 60% | 45% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 92% | 73% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1020–1360 | No data reported |
| SAT average | 1180 | No data reported |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 3,984 | 2,651 |
| Students accepted | 3,618 | 1,890 |
| Students who enrolled | 429 | 373 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 12% | 20% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 10% | 6% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 1% | 2% |
| 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) | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| 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 | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 53% | 42% |
| Freshmen who come back | 75% | 74% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $53,453/yr | $50,074/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $39,649–$72,917 | $32,037–$72,086 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 60% | 47% |
| White students graduating | 57% | 50% |
| Black students graduating | 35% | 25% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 51% | 30% |
| Asian students graduating | 50% | 60% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $45,620/yr | $39,200/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 78% | 73% |
| Graduate on time | 45% | 36% |
| Pell students who graduate | 48% | 30% |
| First-gen students who finish | 56% | 43% |
| Low-income students who finish | 48% | 44% |
| Students who transfer out | No data reported | 44% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $50,239/yr | $47,428/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 26% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 16% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 10% | Business, Management & Marketing 14% · Psychology 13% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 11% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 26% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 14% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 16% of degrees | Psychology — 13% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 11% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 8% of degrees | Health Professions — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 7% of degrees | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Computer Science — $58,440/yr | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $81,277/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 15% | 15% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,400 | 1,256 |
| Students per professor | 13 : 1 | 15 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 41 | 104 |
| Average professor pay | $7,326/mo | $8,756/mo |
| Full-time professors | 70% | 70% |
| 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 | $47,832 |
| Setting | Suburb (small) | City (large) |
| Location | Bridgewater, VA | Virginia Beach, VA |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1880 | 1961 |
| 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% | 3.1% |
| Men | 53% | 43% |
| Women | 47% | 57% |
| White students | 66% | 39% |
| Black students | 11% | 20% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 7.5% | 8.3% |
| Asian students | 1.6% | 2.7% |
| Two or more races | 5.6% | 5.2% |
| Other / not reported | 4.9% | 21% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 32% | 31% |
| Part-time students | 0.3% | 6.1% |
| Students age 25+ | 0.4% | 8.1% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $8,750/yr | $10,936/yr |
| Endowment | $102.6M | $121.8M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,538 | 856 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 15 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Four-one-four plan |
| Religious affiliation | Church of Brethren | United Methodist |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 | No |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | Yes |
| 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 III without football |
| Football team | Yes | No |
| Varsity teams | 19 | 19 |
| Student athletes | 546 | 449 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $4.9M | $3.4M |
| Athletics revenue | $4.9M | $3.4M |
| Recruiting spend | $105,874 | $45,721 |
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.