Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, Virginia
Located in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Bridgewater College is an independent, private liberal arts college founded in 1880. Coeducational since its founding, Bridgewater offers bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees in more than 60 majors and minors, along with several master’s degree programs, pre-professional programs such as medicine and law, and teacher licensure.
The College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award degrees at the baccalaureate and master’s level. The master of science in athletic training is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), and the teacher education program is accredited by the Council of Accreditation for Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Get to know Bridgewater College
College Highlights
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE @ BRIDGEWATER
Undergraduate research with faculty can begin as early as a student’s first year. The Research Experience @ Bridgewater, a donor-funded initiative, supports teams of faculty and students who spend the summer in collaborative research in any discipline. Additionally, funding for summer research in the natural sciences is available through the Martin Science Research Institute and the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges. Students often collaborate with their faculty partners on conference presentations in their field.
EDUCATION ABROAD
Bridgewater students enjoy a variety of opportunities for global experiences through semester programs abroad and May Term travel courses. May Term travel courses offer a study abroad experience in a few short weeks. Students gain first-hand knowledge of another culture while traveling with a BC professor and their fellow students. May Term is an intensive three-week class session in May, after the spring semester, focused on experiential learning courses.
Anna Tripp ‘18, who studied abroad while at Bridgewater, said, “The small class sizes [at Bridgewater] led me to have great relationships with my professors, which meant they were able to recommend certain routes that have led me to where I am today.”
CLASS SIZE
The number of sections of each class size.
2-9: 45 | 10-19: 128 | 20-29: 148
30-39: 32 | 40-49: 2 | 50-99: 3 | 100+: 0
ENROLLMENT BY ETHNICITY
Nonresident: 4%
Hispanic/Latine: 8%
Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 11%
White, non-Hispanic: 66%
Native/Indigenous American or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: 0%
Asian, non-Hispanic: 2%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: 0%
Two or more races, non-Hispanic: 6%
Race and/or ethnicity unknown: 4%
INTERACTIVE AND INNOVATIVE
At Bridgewater, learning means more than just mastering the material in a classroom setting. It’s about using knowledge and skills to connect and engage with the world. Students participate in conversations about a wide variety of issues in order to learn to interact with respect, examine various perspectives, practice critical reasoning, and articulate their unique perspective.
SPECIAL STUDY OPTIONS
Programs available at this institution.
Distance learning
Domestic Semester*
Double major
Honors Program
Independent study
Internships**
Liberal arts/career combination
Study abroad
Teacher certification program
* The Smithsonian-Mason Semester for Conservation Studies at George Mason University
** Including the Washington Center’s Academic Internship Program
Rachel Cubbage ‘23 said, “Bridgewater had a cozy vibe. I walked onto campus, and it felt like home.”
INTERDISCIPLINARY CHANGEMAKERS
The annual Showker Leadership Project competition awards funds each year to an interdisciplinary team of students who come up with an innovative solution to a complex problem.
GUEST LECTURES
Bridgewater’s Endowed Lectures program brings renowned speakers to campus to share their perspectives and stories. Past speakers have included authors Jon Meacham and James McBride, political analysts Jonah Goldberg and Mara Liasson, journalist Celeste Headlee, and many more.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Bridgewater’s opportunities for student engagement include 60+ clubs and organizations that help students develop leadership skills, get practical experience, and connect to their peers. SpringFest is the annual end-of-year/get-ready-for-finals celebration, when everyone (faculty and staff are invited too!) heads outside to play games and eat carnival food. Traditions such as the winter Journey of Lights celebrate the variety of backgrounds and faiths Bridgewater students bring to campus.
SCHOOL LOCATION
Located in the central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Bridgewater College’s campus is in the town of Bridgewater, just a few minutes away from the nearby city of Harrisonburg. The cities of Charlottesville and Richmond—as well as the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area—are within a two-hour drive of campus. The Shenandoah Valley offers numerous opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, tubing, biking, skiing, and more, along with such historical sites of interest as Civil War battlefields and museums.
ATHLETICS
A member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, the Bridgewater College Eagles compete in NCAA Division III and NCEA in 25 men’s and women’s intercollegiate varsity sports. Bridgewater’s esports teams compete in the ECAC and MAEC. Spirit programs include cheerleading and the Screamin’ Eagles Marching Band. School colors are crimson and gold, and the mascot is Ernie the Eagle.
RESIDENCE LIFE
Percent of students living on campus.
First-time, first-year (freshman) students: 83%
Undergraduates: 80%
Campus housing options.
Coed dorms
Apartments for single students
Special housing for students with disabilities
HANDS-ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Bridgewater College students have many opportunities for hands-on experience in their field of choice, including internships, field experiences, and other practical applications of what they’re learning in the classroom.
At her internship with Big Brothers Big Sisters, psychology major Deja Gentry helped match mentors with children who needed positive role models. She learned valuable career skills, such as teamwork and how to bring out the best in others. After graduating, she was able to translate that experience into a full-time position as a children’s mental health case manager at the Valley Community Services Board.
FAST TRACK TO GREATNESS
Bridgewater’s graduate programs are designed to allow any entering student to graduate with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in only 5 years. All involve hands-on, practical learning experiences in which students apply what they’ve learned in the classroom in an immersive clinical experience or capstone project for a business in the local community.
CENTER FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT
The Center for Career Development strengthens student connections to Bridgewater alumni, providing them a variety of opportunities from which they can hear from and work alongside each other, including panel discussions, mock interviews, mentoring, and internships.
Admission
ADMISSIONS FACTORS
Very Important
Rigor of secondary school record | Academic GPA
Considered
Class rank | Standardized test scores | Application Essay
Recommendation(s) | Interview | Character/personal qualities
FRESHMAN PROFILE
SAT Composite
25th Percentile: 1010 | 75th Percentile: 1390
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th Percentile: 550 | 75th Percentile: 680
SAT Math
25th Percentile: 470 | 75th Percentile: 680
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Interested students can apply via Bridgewater’s online application or through the Common App. The College’s “rolling admissions” policy means an applicant will receive a decision within two weeks of applying. Bridgewater also offers a test-optional admissions policy, meaning interested students may choose to apply without submitting SAT or ACT test scores.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition: $16,400
Fees: $1,123
Room & Board: $15,296
Aid
100% of first-time, first-year Bridgewater students receive financial assistance. Learn more about Bridgewater’s commitment to affordability and tuition transparency at real.bridgewater.edu.
What Others are Saying
Contact Bridgewater College
Contact Admissions
bridgewater.edu/admissions-aid
(800) 759-8328
admissions@bridgewater.edu
Campus Location
402 East College Street
Bridgewater, VA 22812
(540) 828-8000