Liberal Arts and Sciences at Bridgewater College

Bridgewater, VA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
30
Optimistic
30
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $46,820/yr (26% vs median)
AI Risk Low (0% exposed)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)
ROI 2.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #277 of 424 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $486K $486K $461K
Earnings Multiple 2.9x 2.9x 2.8x
Probability of Field Employment 45% 45% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 30 30 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$165,400
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$80,692
51% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,781
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,686
2% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $46,820 put Bridgewater College's Liberal Arts and Sciences program 26% above the national median of $37,172 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The financial case is thin at 2.9x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic ten-year scenarios is just 5% — this field's hands-on core resists automation.

Median debt of $25,781 represents roughly 7 months of the $46,820 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #277 of 424 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs, Bridgewater College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $47,686 are relatively flat compared to the $46,820 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Bridgewater College

Bridgewater College accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 1,388 in Bridgewater, VA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $80,692 — 51% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Bridgewater College →

Top Career Paths

Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr
View all 1 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Liberal Arts and Sciences at Other Schools

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Liberal Arts and Sciences at Bridgewater College?
A score of 30/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Liberal Arts and Sciences. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Bridgewater College a hidden gem for Liberal Arts and Sciences?
After financial aid, the average student pays $80,692 over four years — 51% below the $165,400 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →