Bentley vs. Bridgewater State

Bentley University and Bridgewater State University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Bentley University
Bridgewater State University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Bentley (45.1% admitted vs 87.8%). Typical SAT 1360 vs 1160.
  • Cheaper after aid: Bridgewater State. Average net price is $15,646 vs $45,802 at Bentley.
  • Graduation: Bentley 88% vs Bridgewater State 52%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Bentley $87,200 vs Bridgewater State $45,700 (median).
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Key differences

Bentley University Bridgewater State University
Acceptance rate
Bentley more selective
Bentley45.1%
Bridgewater State87.8%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Bentley higher
Bentley1280-1430
Bridgewater State1060-1263
Average net price
Bridgewater State $30,156 less
Bentley$45,802
Bridgewater State$15,646
In-state tuition
Bridgewater State $49,192 less
Bentley$61,000
Bridgewater State$11,808
Out-of-state tuition
Bridgewater State $43,052 less
Bentley$61,000
Bridgewater State$17,948
Graduation rate
Bentley +36 pts
Bentley88%
Bridgewater State52%
Median earnings (10 years)
Bentley +$41,500
Bentley$87,200
Bridgewater State$45,700

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Bentley 11,012
  • Bridgewater State 9,096
  • Admitted
  • Bentley 4,961
  • Bridgewater State 7,987
  • Acceptance rate
  • Bentley 45.1%
  • Bridgewater State 87.8%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Bentley 21.3%
  • Bridgewater State 19.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bentley 1360
  • Bridgewater State 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bentley 29
  • Bridgewater State 27
  • Average high school GPA
  • Bentley 3.75
  • Bridgewater State 3.21
  • Typical high school grades
  • Bentley A-
  • Bridgewater State B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Bentley Very High
  • Bridgewater State Challenging
  • Applicant competition
  • Bentley Low
  • Bridgewater State
  • SAT range
  • Bentley 1280-1430
  • Bridgewater State 1060-1263
  • ACT range
  • Bentley 28-31
  • Bridgewater State 25-30
  • Submit test scores
  • Bentley Test optional
  • Bridgewater State Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Bentley Jan 15, 2027
  • Bridgewater State Feb 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • Bridgewater State $11,808
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • Bridgewater State $17,948
  • Room & board
  • Bentley $20,140
  • Bridgewater State $15,247
  • Average net price
  • Bentley $45,802
  • Bridgewater State $15,646
  • Average grant aid
  • Bentley $33,673
  • Bridgewater State $10,318
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Bentley 88%
  • Bridgewater State 86%
  • Graduation rate
  • Bentley 88%
  • Bridgewater State 52%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Bentley $87,200
  • Bridgewater State $45,700
  • Making student loan payments
  • Bentley 92%
  • Bridgewater State 64%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Bentley $26,500
  • Bridgewater State $24,590
  • Median loan payment
  • Bentley $274
  • Bridgewater State $254
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Bentley 12:1
  • Bridgewater State 17:1
  • Popular majors
  • Bentley
    • Business (83%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
    • Mathematics (1%)
    • General Studies (1%)
  • Bridgewater State
    • Education (17%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Location
  • Bentley Waltham, MA
  • Bridgewater State Bridgewater, MA
  • Setting
  • Bentley Small City
  • Bridgewater State Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Bentley 5,333
  • Bridgewater State 9,727
  • Type
  • Bentley Private 4 Year
  • Bridgewater State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Bentley #107
  • Bridgewater State #553

Comparable Facts

Compare Bentley University in Waltham, MA with Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Bridgewater State University is larger than Bentley based on total student enrollment (9,727 students vs. 5,333 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bentley University is located in Waltham, MA (Small City setting); Bridgewater State University is in Bridgewater, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Bentley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bridgewater State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bentley University 12:1; Bridgewater State University 17:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater State University are 24.3% lower than at Bentley University ($15,247 vs. $20,140).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 239.9% higher at Bentley than at Bridgewater State University (about $43,052 more per year; $61,000 vs. $17,948).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bentley University than at Bridgewater State University (88% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bentley University students is 226.4% larger than aid received by Bridgewater State University students ($33,673 vs. $10,318).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Bentley than at Bridgewater State (29 vs. 27, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Bentley and Bridgewater State.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bentley Jan 15, 2027; Bridgewater State Feb 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Bentley average a 3.75 high school GPA, 0.54 higher than at Bridgewater State (3.21).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.3% at Bentley vs. 19.4% at Bridgewater State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bridgewater State University graduates have a $1,910 lower median loan debt than Bentley graduates ($24,590 vs. $26,500).
  • Among borrowers, Bridgewater State graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bentley graduates ($254 vs. $274).
  • More Bentley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bridgewater State students, three years after graduation (92% vs. 64%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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