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AccessibleUpdated for the 2026-2027 cycle

Bridgewater State University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

Bridgewater State University, a public university in Massachusetts, reports a 88% acceptance rate and sits in the accessible band. In practice that means it admits most qualified applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.

Your odds at Bridgewater State University
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Bridgewater State University weighs, where it ranks among Massachusetts schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1130, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
88%
Accessible
SAT middle 50%
1060-1263
of admitted students
Type
Public
Bridgewater, MA
Average net price
$16,383
per year after aid

What do students study at Bridgewater State University?

Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.

Business, Management and Marketing · 246 (15.1%)Education · 238 (14.6%)Psychology · 213 (13.1%)Health Professions and Related Programs · 145 (8.9%)Homeland Security, Law Enforcement and Firefighting · 125 (7.7%)Communication and Journalism · 110 (6.8%)Social Sciences · 85 (5.2%)Public Administration and Social Service · 76 (4.7%)English Language and Literature · 63 (3.9%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 57 (3.5%)History · 54 (3.3%)Visual and Performing Arts · 53 (3.3%)

Will I get into Bridgewater State University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Bridgewater State University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Bridgewater State University?

Your odds at Bridgewater State University are not the same as its 88% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Bridgewater State University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Bridgewater State University hard to get into?

Bridgewater State University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 88% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Bridgewater State University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Bridgewater State University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Bridgewater State University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

Calculate your chances at Bridgewater State University →

Your chances at Bridgewater State University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Bridgewater State University for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).

What are my chances at Bridgewater State University with a 3.1 GPA and a 1160 SAT?

About 98% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1160 SAT, the middle of Bridgewater State University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1260 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Bridgewater State University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 106025th pctSAT 1160middleSAT 126075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.581%Safety92%Safety95%Safety75%Safety
2.895%Safety98%Safety98%Safety95%Safety
3.198%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety
3.498%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/bridgewater-state-university.

How to get into Bridgewater State University

Built from Bridgewater State University's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.

There is no formula that guarantees a spot at Bridgewater State University, but the applicants who get in tend to do the same four things. Here is what the numbers say each one looks like.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Bridgewater State University carries about a 3.03 core GPA and a 1213 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.

Step 2
Decide on scores with the real range

The admitted middle 50% is 1060 to 1263 SAT (25 to 30 ACT). Submit a score at 1162 or higher; below 1060, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Bridgewater State University weighs

Bridgewater State University rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 4
Apply in the round that helps

Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by Bridgewater State University's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.bridgew.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.

See your odds and your top moves at Bridgewater State University →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.bridgew.edu ↗

How many students apply to Bridgewater State University, and how many get in?

Bridgewater State University admitted 7,698 of the 8,631 students who applied for fall 2023, which works out to 89.2%. 1,580 enrolled. Only about 21% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. Bridgewater State University enrolls about 7,829 undergraduates in total, 57% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 17 to 1.

Applied
8,631
fall 2023
Admitted
7,698
89.2% of applicants
Enrolled
1,580
21% yield
Undergraduates
7,829
Bridgewater, large suburb

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Bridgewater State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Bridgewater State University scored between 1060 and 1263 on the SAT (average 1180). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 25 to 30. A score above 1263 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1060 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Bridgewater State University is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.

SAT middle 50%
1060-1263
average 1180
ACT middle 50%
25-30
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.

What Bridgewater State University looks for

What Bridgewater State University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

The factors that carry the most weight at Bridgewater State University are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Bridgewater State University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
State residency
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Bridgewater State University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Bridgewater State University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200Above the admitted 75th percentile
1100In the competitive admitted range
Colleges for a 1130 SAT →Colleges for a 23 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Bridgewater State University cost after financial aid?

Bridgewater State University's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $26,160 per year. Tuition and fees are $11,808 for MA residents and $17,948 for out-of-state students, a $6,140 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $16,383 a year, and it ranges from $10,007 for families earning under $30,000 to $21,176 for families earning over $110,000. 32% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$26,160
per year, before aid
Average net price
$16,383
after grants and scholarships
In-state tuition
$11,808
$17,948 out of state
Pell recipients
32%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$10,007
$30k to $48k$11,579
$48k to $75k$13,559
$75k to $110k$16,904
Over $110k$21,176

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.

What do Bridgewater State University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Ten years after enrolling, the median Bridgewater State University student who received federal aid earns $57,466 a year, up from $46,673 at six years. 53% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 75% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $24,286; 75% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$57,466
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
53%
within six years
Retention
75%
return for year two
Median debt
$24,286
at graduation, borrowers

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.

How Bridgewater State University compares in Massachusetts

Bridgewater State University ranks #34 most selective of 36 schools in Massachusetts in our database.

Among the 36 Massachusetts schools we track, Bridgewater State University ranks #34 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Harvard University (4%) and Northeastern University (5%) sit nearby, which makes Massachusetts a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

Harvard University
4%acceptance · MA
Northeastern University
5%acceptance · MA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
5%acceptance · MA
Williams College
8%acceptance · MA
Amherst College
9%acceptance · MA
Boston University
11%acceptance · MA
Tufts University
11%acceptance · MA
Wellesley College
14%acceptance · MA
See all Massachusetts schools →

Similar to Bridgewater State University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Applicants targeting Bridgewater State University often weigh Georgia Southern University, Illinois State University, and Norfolk State University, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Georgia Southern University
88%acceptance · GA
Illinois State University
88%acceptance · IL
Norfolk State University
88%acceptance · VA
Oakland University
88%acceptance · MI
UT Martin
88%acceptance · TN
University of Alabama at Birmingham
88%acceptance · AL

Frequently asked questions

What is Bridgewater State University's acceptance rate?

Bridgewater State University admitted 7,698 of 8,631 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 89.2% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 21% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Bridgewater State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1060 to 1263 on the SAT and 25 to 30 on the ACT. A score above 1263 is in the top quarter of admits. Bridgewater State University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Bridgewater State University test-optional?

Yes. Bridgewater State University reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.

How much does Bridgewater State University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Bridgewater State University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $16,383 a year against a sticker price of about $26,160. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $10,007 on average.

What do Bridgewater State University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Bridgewater State University are $57,466 a year among students who received federal aid, and 53% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Bridgewater State University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Bridgewater State University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Bridgewater State University favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Bridgewater State University generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at Bridgewater State University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Bridgewater State University specifically.

What are the admission requirements for Bridgewater State University?

Bridgewater State University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.