Bridgewater State vs. Shepherd University

Should I go to Bridgewater State University or Shepherd University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bridgewater State or Shepherd University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Bridgewater State University vs. Shepherd University comparison
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Bridgewater State University Shepherd University
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Overview

Bridgewater State Shepherd University
Location Bridgewater, MA Shepherdstown, WV
Setting Large Suburban Town Fringe
Enrollment 9,604 3,235
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #674 #866
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bridgew.edu shepherd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bridgewater State Shepherd University
Tuition (In State) $910 $6,288
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $15,774
Room & Board $14,162 $10,987
Avg Net Price $17,225 $9,827
Avg Grant Aid $8,616 $7,328
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 93%

Admission

Bridgewater State Shepherd University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,807 1,690
Admitted 7,725 1,620
Acceptance Rate 87.7% 95.9%
Enrolled % 20.3% 34.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.21 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 19/24
SAT Range 1030/1210 930/1170
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 15, 2024

Academics

Bridgewater State Shepherd University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (17%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Bridgewater State Shepherd University
Graduation Rate 52% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,700 $41,500
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,590 $22,223
Median Loan Payment $254 $229

Diversity

Bridgewater State Shepherd University
% Men 39% 37%
% Women 61% 63%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 82%
% Black 9% 10%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Bridgewater State Shepherd University
% In-State 93% 64%
% Out-of-State 7% 35%

Campus

Bridgewater State Shepherd University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bridgewater State University is larger than than Shepherd University based on total student enrollment (9,604 students vs. 3,235 students)

Bridgewater State vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bridgewater State or Shepherd University?

  • Shepherd University is 591% more expensive to attend than Bridgewater State for in-state tuition ($6,288.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 123.7% higher at Shepherd University than Bridgewater State University ($15,774.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shepherd University than Bridgewater State ($9,827 vs. $17,225)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shepherd University are 28.9% lower than costs at Bridgewater State University ($10,987 vs. $14,162)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shepherd University than Bridgewater State University (93% vs. 82%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater State University students is 17.6% larger than aid received Shepherd University ($8,616 vs. $7,328)

Bridgewater State vs. Shepherd University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bridgewater State or Shepherd University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Shepherd University or Bridgewater State .

  • The average SAT score at Bridgewater State University (996) is 1 points higher than at Shepherd University (995)
  • Incoming Bridgewater State students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Shepherd University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Bridgewater State (3.21)
  • Shepherd University has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than Bridgewater State (87.7%)

Bridgewater State vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bridgewater State or Shepherd University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Shepherd University and Bridgewater State.

  • The graduation rate at Bridgewater State is higher than Shepherd University (52% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Bridgewater State University earn on average $4,200 more per year than Shepherd University graduates after ten years. ($45,700 vs. $41,500)
  • Shepherd University students graduate with a $2,367 lower median federal student loan debt than Bridgewater State graduates. ($22,223 vs. $24,590)
  • Shepherd University graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than Bridgewater State graduates. ($229 vs. $254)
  • More Bridgewater State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shepherd University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/