Randolph-Macon College vs Bridgewater College: which has better ROI?
Randolph-Macon College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $111,464 in 11 years versus 14 years at Bridgewater College, on median earnings of $58,448 vs $53,453 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Randolph-Macon College | Bridgewater College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,866 | $17,800 |
| Total net cost | $111,464 | $71,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,448 | $53,453 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 11 yrs | 14 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $90,296 | $30,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Randolph-Macon College or Bridgewater College?
Bridgewater College, at $17,800 a year after aid versus $27,866 — a gap of $10,066 a year, or $40,264 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Randolph-Macon College or Bridgewater College graduates earn more?
Randolph-Macon College graduates report a median $58,448 ten years after entry, $4,995 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, Randolph-Macon College or Bridgewater College?
Bridgewater College: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Randolph-Macon College, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at Randolph-Macon College, 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.