Bridgewater College vs Eastern Mennonite University: which has better ROI?
Bridgewater College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $71,200 in 14 years versus 15.1 years at Eastern Mennonite University, on median earnings of $53,453 vs $54,869 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bridgewater College | Eastern Mennonite University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,800 | $24,588 |
| Total net cost | $71,200 | $98,352 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,453 | $54,869 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $24,813 |
| Payback | 14 yrs | 15.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $30,660 | $31,828 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bridgewater College or Eastern Mennonite University?
Bridgewater College, at $17,800 a year after aid versus $24,588 — a gap of $6,788 a year, or $27,152 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Bridgewater College or Eastern Mennonite University graduates earn more?
Eastern Mennonite University graduates report a median $54,869 ten years after entry, $1,416 more than the $53,453 at Bridgewater College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Bridgewater College or Eastern Mennonite University?
Eastern Mennonite University: its completers carry a median $24,813 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Bridgewater College, a difference of $1,187. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Eastern Mennonite University, against 53% at Bridgewater College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.