UNCW vs. BC

Deciding between University of North Carolina Wilmington and Bridgewater College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of North Carolina Wilmington
Bridgewater College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UNCW Wilmington, NC
  • BC Bridgewater, VA
  • Setting
  • UNCW Midsize City
  • BC Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UNCW 18,848
  • BC 1,448
  • Type
  • UNCW Public 4 Year
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UNCW #389
  • BC #623
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UNCW -
  • BC Church of Brethren
  • Status
  • UNCW Non-profit
  • BC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UNCW
  • BC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UNCW $7,277
  • BC $16,090
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UNCW $24,152
  • BC $16,090
  • Room & Board
  • UNCW $14,268
  • BC $14,850
  • Average Net Price
  • UNCW $18,976
  • BC $11,316
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UNCW $6,674
  • BC $47,288
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UNCW 55%
  • BC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UNCW 20,393
  • BC 3,938
  • Admitted
  • UNCW 13,101
  • BC 3,612
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UNCW 64.2%
  • BC 91.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UNCW 21%
  • BC 10.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNCW 1290
  • BC 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNCW 26
  • BC
  • Average High School GPA
  • UNCW 3.56
  • BC 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UNCW A-
  • BC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UNCW Difficult
  • BC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UNCW Low
  • BC
  • ACT Range
  • UNCW 24/29
  • BC
  • SAT Range
  • UNCW 1230/1340
  • BC 1020/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UNCW Test optional
  • BC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UNCW Feb 1, 2027
  • BC May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UNCW 17:1
  • BC 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UNCW
    • Business (22%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • BC
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UNCW 67%
  • BC 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UNCW $44,700
  • BC $43,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UNCW 64%
  • BC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UNCW $20,500
  • BC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UNCW $211
  • BC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UNCW 35%
  • BC 52%
  • % Women
  • UNCW 65%
  • BC 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UNCW Low
  • BC Low
  • HBCU
  • UNCW No
  • BC No
  • % White
  • UNCW 78%
  • BC 73%
  • % Asian
  • UNCW 2%
  • BC 1%
  • % Black
  • UNCW 5%
  • BC 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • UNCW 7%
  • BC 5%
  • % Native American
  • UNCW 1%
  • BC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UNCW 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UNCW 3%
  • BC 5%
  • % International
  • UNCW 1%
  • BC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UNCW 3%
  • BC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UNCW 87%
  • BC 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UNCW 11%
  • BC 19%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UNCW Yes
  • BC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UNCW No
  • BC No
  • Meal Plan
  • UNCW Yes
  • BC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UNCW No
  • BC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UNCW No
  • BC No

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina Wilmington in Wilmington, NC with Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina Wilmington is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (18,848 students vs. 1,448 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of North Carolina Wilmington is located in Wilmington, NC (Midsize City setting); Bridgewater College is in Bridgewater, VA (Small Suburban setting).
  • University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bridgewater College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina Wilmington 17:1; Bridgewater College 13:1.

UNCW vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNCW or BC? 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 College than UNCW ($11,316 vs. $18,976).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina Wilmington are 3.9% lower than at Bridgewater College ($14,268 vs. $14,850).
  • Bridgewater College is 121.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNCW (about $8,813 more per year; $16,090.00 vs. $7,277.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 50.1% higher at UNCW than at Bridgewater College (about $8,062 more per year; $24,152.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater College than at University of North Carolina Wilmington (100% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 608.5% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina Wilmington students ($47,288 vs. $6,674).

UNCW vs. BC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNCW or BC? 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 BC and UNCW.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina Wilmington (1290) is 100 points higher than at BC (1190).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina Wilmington 1230/1340; Bridgewater College 1020/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina Wilmington 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNCW - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNCW Feb 1, 2027; BC May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at UNCW (3.56).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (91.7%) than UNCW (64.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21% at UNCW vs. 10.1% at BC.

UNCW vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNCW and BC? 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).

  • University of North Carolina Wilmington's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Bridgewater College's (59%).
  • Graduates from University of North Carolina Wilmington earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,700 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina Wilmington graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($20,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UNCW graduates have an estimated $68 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($211 vs. $279).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCW students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.