Head-to-head comparison
Bridgewater State University vs Simmons 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 Boston, MA
Simmons University
- Net price / year
- $25,265
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,494
- Payback
- 6.7 yrs
Simmons University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $101,060 in 6.7 years versus 7.2 years at Bridgewater State University, on median earnings of $63,494 vs $57,466 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bridgewater State University | Simmons University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,383 | $25,265 |
| Total net cost | $65,532 | $101,060 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,466 | $63,494 |
| Median debt | $24,286 | $24,840 |
| Payback | 7.2 yrs | 6.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $116,588 | $201,620 |
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 Simmons University?
Bridgewater State University, at $16,383 a year after aid versus $25,265 — a gap of $8,882 a year, or $35,528 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 Simmons University graduates earn more?
Simmons University graduates report a median $63,494 ten years after entry, $6,028 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 Simmons University?
Bridgewater State University: its completers carry a median $24,286 in federal loans versus $24,840 at Simmons University, a difference of $554. 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?
72% of students finish at Simmons 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.