Bridgewater State vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

Compare Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA with Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bridgewater State University is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (9,727 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bridgewater State University is located in Bridgewater, MA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Bridgewater State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bridgewater State University 17:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

Bridgewater State vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bridgewater State or Penn State Lehigh Valley? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bridgewater State University than Penn State Lehigh Valley ($15,646 vs. $19,066).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater State University are 0.2% lower than at Penn State Lehigh Valley ($15,247 vs. $15,274).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is 28.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bridgewater State (about $3,400 more per year; $15,208.00 vs. $11,808.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41.5% higher at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at Bridgewater State University (about $7,444 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $17,948.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater State University than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (86% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater State University students is 13.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($10,318 vs. $9,065).

Bridgewater State vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bridgewater State or Penn State Lehigh Valley? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Lehigh Valley and Bridgewater State.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 70 points higher than at Bridgewater State (1160).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bridgewater State University 1060/1263; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bridgewater State University 25/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bridgewater State - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bridgewater State Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Lehigh Valley students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Bridgewater State (3.21).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Bridgewater State (87.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Bridgewater State vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Bridgewater State vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bridgewater State and Penn State Lehigh Valley? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Bridgewater State University's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than Bridgewater State graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bridgewater State University graduates have a $2,228 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($24,590 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Bridgewater State graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($254 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bridgewater State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 64%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.