Shenandoah University vs Bridgewater College: which has better ROI?
Shenandoah University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $121,192 in 12 years versus 14 years at Bridgewater College, on median earnings of $58,433 vs $53,453 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Shenandoah University | Bridgewater College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,298 | $17,800 |
| Total net cost | $121,192 | $71,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,433 | $53,453 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 12 yrs | 14 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $80,268 | $30,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Shenandoah University or Bridgewater College?
Bridgewater College, at $17,800 a year after aid versus $30,298 — a gap of $12,498 a year, or $49,992 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Shenandoah University or Bridgewater College graduates earn more?
Shenandoah University graduates report a median $58,433 ten years after entry, $4,980 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, Shenandoah University or Bridgewater College?
Shenandoah University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Bridgewater 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?
67% of students finish at Shenandoah 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.