Bridgewater College

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U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category

U.S. News rank Category Name #178 National Liberal Arts Colleges

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Summary

Bridgewater College is a private institution that was founded in 1880. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,688, its setting is rural, and the campus size is 300 acres. It utilizes a 4-1-4-based academic calendar. Bridgewater College's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, 178. Its tuition and fees are $26,500 (2011-12).

School mission (as provided by the school):

As illustrated by its start as the first private, coeducational college in Virginia, Bridgewater College strives for innovation in all it does. Students are educated in a challenging environment to become engaged, well-rounded leaders in their careers and in their communities. Learning at Bridgewater reaches far beyond the classroom...and far beyond the academic. Students develop not only intellectually, but also socially and ethically. Grounded in the liberal arts, students at Bridgewater College learn about a variety of disciplines, enabling them to become articulate, analytical and assertive. Our students learn to become strong writers and public speakers; they learn to communicate their thoughts and ideas to a wide variety of people; they learn to work as part of a team; and, most importantly, they learn the skills needed to have productive and impactful lives and careers. With 63 majors and minors, 11 concentrations, 9 pre-professional programs and 4 dual degree programs, Bridgewater College students combine their important coursework in the liberal arts with rigorous, focused studies in the major(s) of their choice, resulting in powerful experiences and resumes with which to seek employment or admission to graduate school. Students are challenged by rigorous academics in a tight-knit community. They collaborate with faculty to create personalized and unique learning experiences. As a result, students realize their full potential, as illustrated by a current student with a national book deal, students who recently produced a documentary to be distributed nationally, and the College's nationally competitive equestrian program. With more than 70 social, cultural, religious, and academic clubs and organizations, there is an opportunity for everyone to be involved on campus. In addition, the student-run Eagle Productions hosts a wide variety of free weekend activities available to students. Events range from comedians and musicians to Homecoming festivities and the Springfest Carnival. Many students are also kept busy by athletic pursuits, with nearly one-third of the student body participating in a Division III sports team and countless others enjoying intramural and club sports. Bridgewater College's location in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia is arguably one of the most beautiful in the country. The College's location offers students the best of both worlds, with a safe, small college town to call home and the excitement of larger cities including Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, Washington, D.C., and Richmond an easy drive away. Bridgewater College is on a continued path to greatness, with a growing student body, exceptional new facilities, accomplished athletic programs and superior academics. It looks forward to a future as bright and beautiful as its past...and its surroundings in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

General Information

School type	private, coed college
Year founded	1880
Religious affiliation	Church of the Brethren
Academic calendar	4-1-4
Setting	rural
2010 Endowment	$54,705,757

Applying

When applying to Bridgewater College, it's important to note the application deadline is rolling. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due April 15. The application fee at Bridgewater College is $30. It is selective, with an acceptance rate of 53.9 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity	selective
Fall 2010 acceptance rate	54%
Application deadline	rolling
SAT/ACT scores must be received by	April 15

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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at Bridgewater College is 14:1, and the school has 48.0 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Bridgewater College include: Business Administration and Management, General; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General; Kinesiology and Exercise Science; and Psychology, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 73.2 percent.

Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio	14:1
4-year graduation rate	58% - High
Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates
Business Administration and Management, General 18% Biology/Biological Sciences, General 9% Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General 7% Kinesiology and Exercise Science 7% Psychology, General 7%

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Student Life

Bridgewater College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,688, with a gender distribution of 41.9 percent male students and 58.1 percent female students. 84.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 16.0 percent of students live off campus. Bridgewater College is part of the NCAA III athletic conference.

Total enrollment	1,688
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Collegiate athletic association	NCAA III

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Campus Info & Services

Bridgewater College offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Bridgewater College also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Bridgewater College, 88 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is not permitted for students of legal age at Bridgewater College.

Students who have cars on campus	88% - High
Health insurance offered	Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer	No

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Paying for School

At Bridgewater College, 80.3 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $17,954.

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

Tuition and fees	$26,500 (2011-12)
Room and board	$10,350 (2011-12) - High
Financial aid statistics

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* Overview details based on 2010 data