Head-to-head comparison
Bridgewater State University vs Clark University: which has better ROI?
Option A Bridgewater, MA
Bridgewater State University
- Net price / year
- $16,383
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,466
- Payback
- 7.2 yrs
Option B Worcester, MA
Clark University
- Net price / year
- $28,714
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,381
- Payback
- 8.2 yrs
Bridgewater State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $65,532 in 7.2 years versus 8.2 years at Clark University, on median earnings of $57,466 vs $62,381 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bridgewater State University | Clark University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,383 | $28,714 |
| Total net cost | $65,532 | $114,856 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,466 | $62,381 |
| Median debt | $24,286 | $26,759 |
| Payback | 7.2 yrs | 8.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $116,588 | $165,564 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bridgewater State University or Clark University?
Bridgewater State University, at $16,383 a year after aid versus $28,714 — a gap of $12,331 a year, or $49,324 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Bridgewater State University or Clark University graduates earn more?
Clark University graduates report a median $62,381 ten years after entry, $4,915 more than the $57,466 at Bridgewater State University. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Bridgewater State University or Clark University?
Bridgewater State University: its completers carry a median $24,286 in federal loans versus $26,759 at Clark University, a difference of $2,473. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
77% of students finish at Clark University, against 53% at Bridgewater State University. 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.