Bridgewater College announced today a commitment to transparency about college costs, changing its published undergraduate tuition price from $40,300 to $15,000 to better reflect the true cost of an education. The new tuition, for all current and new students, takes effect at the start of the 2024-2025 academic year.
“A college education is one of the most important investments an individual can make–for economic success and a fuller life. Most private colleges use a high tuition/high discount model in their pricing, setting a high ‘sticker price’ and then offering deep discounts through financial aid,” said President David W. Bushman. “We believe the published tuition price should reflect the real cost of your education, not be a complicated and confusing pricing strategy.”
“We know many students and their families consider the published tuition price when making their college decisions and won’t even consider private colleges if they appear too expensive,” said Michael A. Post, vice president for enrollment management. “By being transparent about the real cost of a Bridgewater education, we are lowering that barrier to access and allowing more students to discover the real value of our educational experience.”
Tuition discount rates are at an all-time high according to the most recent study by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). On average, private colleges cut 56.2% of tuition for first-time undergraduate students.
“The original purpose of tuition discounting was to make higher education affordable to low-income students,” said Bushman. “But over time, the practice has resulted in higher and higher tuition sticker prices that bear little resemblance to the actual cost of education. We’re now discouraging the many students and families whom the system was designed to attract. Worse yet, at a national level, we’re undermining the notion that a college education is worth the price. When students think about Bridgewater, we want them to think about the connections to great mentors, inspiring classmates and life-changing experiences we offer–not a price tag that makes us seem out of reach.”
For more information, visit real.bridgewater.edu.
Media Contact:
Logan Bogert
Communications Coordinator
(540) 828-5486 (office)
lbogert@bridgewater.edu
