Bridgewater State vs Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)

Bridgewater State University and Florida Gulf Coast University, located in opposite corners of the country, offer distinct educational experiences. Bridgewater State, rooted in Massachusetts, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students. In contrast, Florida Gulf Coast, situated in sunny Florida, attracts a more diverse student body, with a larger international student population. While both universities offer a range of undergraduate and graduate programs, Bridgewater State excels in education and psychology, while Florida Gulf Coast shines in business and engineering. With varying graduation rates and costs of attendance, the choice between these two institutions hinges on individual preferences and academic aspirations. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover which university aligns best with your educational goals and personal preferences.
Bridgewater State University logo

Bridgewater State University

Florida Gulf Coast University logo

Florida Gulf Coast University

Overview

Location Bridgewater, Massachusetts Fort Myers, Florida
Campus setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 79.0% 82.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 86.4% 89.2%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
SAT range 1010 - 1200 1010 - 1180
ACT range 19 - 28 19 - 25
Students submitting SAT score 18.0% 79.0%
Students submitting ACT score 1.0% 45.0%
Total number of applicants 8,881 14,462
Total number of admissions given out 7,671 12,901
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,382 3,125
Yield rate 18.0% 24.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $29,164

Out of state: $35,304
In state: $20,390

Out of state: $39,434
Average net price $12,744 $9,840
Tuition
In state: $910

Out of state: $7,050
In state: $4,191

Out of state: $22,328
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $9,256

Meal plan: $4,576
Room/dormitory: $4,820

Meal plan: $4,346
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

74.0%
Average amount $7,617
78.0%
Average amount $6,754
Students receiving federal student loan 81.0%
Average amount $3,681
30.0%
Average amount $7,251
Students taking out private loans 13.0%
Average amount $12,080
4.0%
Average amount $16,201

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 8,369
Men 40.7% Women 59.3%
14,228
Men 42.9% Women 57.1%
Graduate students 1,573
Men 23.2% Women 76.8%
1,681
Men 29.2% Women 70.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 17.6%
International students 0.6% 2.1%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 3,304 4,732
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Mississippi Rhode Island Connecticut New Hampshire Maine Florida Illinois New Jersey Pennsylvania Ohio

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Health Professions
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Liberal Arts
  • Education
  • Engineering
Students to faculty ratio 19:1 22:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 62.4% 56.2%
Dropout rate 35.1% 26.2%
Transferred out N/A 13.4%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,437
  • Year 2: $68,858
  • Year 3: $78,114
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,602
  • Year 2: $60,623
  • Year 3: $66,570
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,446
  • Year 2: $54,053
  • Year 3: $58,775
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,202
  • Year 2: $53,775
  • Year 3: $58,619
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,074
  • Year 2: $46,869
  • Year 3: $55,780
Air Transportation (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,151
  • Year 2: $41,565
  • Year 3: $53,648
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,960
  • Year 2: $45,383
  • Year 3: $53,145
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,152
  • Year 2: $50,161
  • Year 3: $53,025
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,273
  • Year 2: $44,371
  • Year 3: $50,098
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,643
  • Year 2: $44,170
  • Year 3: $49,769
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,910
  • Year 2: $59,722
  • Year 3: $85,341
Computer Software and Media Applications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $74,972
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $70,296
  • Year 3: $73,324
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,429
  • Year 2: $66,821
  • Year 3: $68,880
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,840
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $68,095
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,707
  • Year 2: $47,520
  • Year 3: $65,837
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,279
  • Year 2: $62,409
  • Year 3: $64,731
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,799
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $63,963
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,944
  • Year 2: $46,769
  • Year 3: $59,253
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,874
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $58,083

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