Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Bridgewater State University #357 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Bridgewater State University sits in the 54.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Bridgewater State University #161 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Students at Bridgewater State University earn more than similar students at comparable institutions, a pattern that holds across the university's business-led program mix and reflects consistent graduate outcomes relative to peer institutions. Azimuth's composite ranking captures how Bridgewater State University balances earnings beyond expectations with meaningful mobility performance — making it a strong option among nonprofit four-year institutions for students weighing long-run financial outcomes against accessible public-university pricing.
Azimuth ranks Bridgewater State University #357 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Bridgewater, MA, Bridgewater State University enrolls roughly 7,829 undergraduates. Freshman retention runs at 75.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 53.4%, reflecting a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored by return on investment and mobility outcomes. Azimuth ranks Bridgewater State University #844 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $59,669, and earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Bridgewater State University in the 54.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Business helps channel graduates into stable, regionally in-demand careers across southeastern Massachusetts and the broader Boston labor market. Access and affordability round out the composite picture. Bridgewater State University draws 31.9% of undergraduates who receive Pell Grants and 34.1% who are first-generation college students — a profile that reflects the university's role as a broad-access public institution serving working- and middle-class families across MA. Azimuth ranks Bridgewater State University in the 65.0 percentile for affordability and the 62.4 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility sitting in the 89.2 percentile — a composite shape that rewards students who prioritize regional career stability and manageable costs over national prestige.
Bridgewater State University's published cost of attendance is $26,160. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $10,007, middle-income families pay around $13,559, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,176. Azimuth ranks Bridgewater State University #499 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated need and other institutional factors. Bridgewater State's public tuition structure and need-based aid reach make it accessible across income levels. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs, and most first-year students receive need-based financial aid. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,286; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,070. Private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,669, median federal debt of $24,286 projects to a monthly payment of about $274 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Bridgewater State University is a strong fit for students in MA who want a regionally grounded public university with a clear path to stable post-graduation earnings, particularly those drawn to Business and related applied fields. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Bridgewater State University in the 54.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — a meaningful signal for cost-conscious students who want confirmation that a degree here translates into real financial progress relative to similar students elsewhere. The access profile is broad. 31.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 34.1% are first-generation college students, and the institution's completion outcomes for Pell-eligible students — 61.3% — reflect a campus that supports students from lower-income backgrounds through to graduation. For families weighing net price against long-run return, median student debt of $24,286 and median earnings four years after enrollment of $59,669 provide a concrete basis for that comparison. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Bridgewater State University admits roughly 87.8% of applicants, making it broadly accessible to most qualified students in the region, and its program portfolio centers on Business, education, and health-related fields rather than engineering or computer science concentrations. Students whose interests align with those areas — and who want an affordable, regionally connected option in Northeast — will find the value proposition here among the stronger ones in the Azimuth coverage set.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Bridgewater State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Bridgewater State University's published cost of attendance is $26,160. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $10,007, middle-income families pay around $13,559, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,176.
Azimuth ranks Bridgewater State University #499 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated need and other institutional factors.
Bridgewater State's public tuition structure and need-based aid reach make it accessible across income levels. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs, and most first-year students receive need-based financial aid.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,286; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,070. Private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,669, median federal debt of $24,286 projects to a monthly payment of about $274 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $59,669, placing Bridgewater State University in the 44.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Bridgewater State University in the 54.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Bridgewater State University #844 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That median earnings figure runs relative to a $37,113 earnings baseline for MA working adults with only a high school credential, underscoring the degree's long-run financial value even where institution-level outcomes track a regional labor market.
The program lineup at Bridgewater State University is anchored by Business, which shapes the institution's overall earnings profile. Psychology, General represents the highest aggregate-return major, combining meaningful cohort scale with solid four-year earnings.
Among the largest programs, Psychology, General program graduates 312 students with median earnings of $51,939 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #110 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods and Criminal Justice follow as sizable programs, with graduates earning $64,769 and $64,178 respectively four years after enrollment.
Higher-earning programs such as Subject-Specific Teacher Education and Teacher Education post four-year median earnings of $58,255 and $51,523, offering stronger early-career upside for students who choose those fields.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
West Virginia University Similar quality tier (#10885 ranked) | WV | 89% | $55,939 | #10885 | Compare |
Texas A&M University-San Antonio Similar quality tier (#10887 ranked) | TX | 93% | $54,338 | #10887 | Compare |
North Dakota State University-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#10880 ranked) | ND | 95% | $62,203 | #10880 | Compare |
University Of Toledo Similar quality tier (#10896 ranked) | OH | 92% | $50,632 | #10896 | Compare |
University Of Central Oklahoma Similar quality tier (#10898 ranked) | OK | 78% | $48,351 | #10898 | Compare |
Computer Science
44 graduates
Chemistry
25 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
78 graduates
Economics
16 graduates
Air Transportation
27 graduates
Bridgewater State University's program mix is anchored in Business, with additional enrollment spread across education, social sciences, and health-related fields — a signature typical of regional public universities serving local workforce needs. Business accounts for 17% of graduates, followed by Education at 16% and Social Sciences at 5%.
Across 31 programs serving roughly 2,064 students annually, the institution's strongest financial outcomes cluster in business and applied professional fields that connect directly to regional employer demand. Psychology, General is the program that combines the broadest enrollment scale with the strongest aggregate earnings at Bridgewater State University, making it the institution's primary driver of graduate financial outcomes.
Psychology, General, the largest program by graduate count with 312 graduates, delivers median earnings of $51,939 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #110 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods follows with 188 graduates earning $64,769 at the four-year mark, while The Criminal Justice program graduates 164 students earning $64,178, with Azimuth ranking it #9 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The highest-earning programs at Bridgewater State University reflect the institution's applied-professional orientation. Accounting leads on earnings, with 78 graduates posting median earnings of $79,315 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #112 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions per [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods and Criminal Justice also deliver competitive early-career pay at $64,769 and $64,178 respectively, both oriented toward direct workforce entry in fields with steady regional demand. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with labor-market conditions in Massachusetts and the broader New England region.
