Bridgewater State vs Fitchburg State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the LEC. Bridgewater State graduates 2 points more of its students; Bridgewater State graduates earn $3,592 more a decade out.
Which one is right for you?
Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.
Lean Bridgewater State if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Bridgewater State graduates 2 percentage points more of its students than Fitchburg State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Bridgewater State graduates earn about $3,592 more per year a decade after enrolling.
Lean Fitchburg State if…
- You would be in-state: Fitchburg State is $343 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Bridgewater State.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.
| Measure | Bridgewater State | Fitchburg State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $11,389 | $11,046 — Fitchburg State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $17,529 | $17,126 |
| Room & board | $14,586 | $14,225 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $25,975 | $25,271 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $32,115 | $31,351 |
What you leave with
Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.
| Measure | Bridgewater State | Fitchburg State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 55% — Bridgewater State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 53% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $57,466/yr — Bridgewater State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $53,874/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,286 | $24,239 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 42% — Bridgewater State leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 45% |
Getting in, and what you'd walk into
Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.
| Measure | Bridgewater State | Fitchburg State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 88% | 87% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 9,550 | 6,296 |
| Where it is | Bridgewater, MA | Fitchburg, MA |
The softball program itself
Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.
| Measure | Bridgewater State | Fitchburg State |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Angela Vecchione (interim) | Carissa Cicolini |
How you actually get in front of them
Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
| Measure | Bridgewater State | Fitchburg State |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division III, so the scholarship rules are identical: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Bridgewater State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Fitchburg State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Bridgewater State vs Fitchburg State: common questions
- Is Bridgewater State or Fitchburg State cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $32,115 a year out of state in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Bridgewater State or Fitchburg State?
- Bridgewater State, at 55% against 53% at Fitchburg State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Bridgewater State and Fitchburg State offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division III: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
- How do I contact the coaches at Bridgewater State and Fitchburg State?
- Both programs run a recruiting questionnaire, and that is the right first move — it is exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit it at any age. Fill out both, then follow with an email to each staff.
Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.
We work hard to keep all data for Bridgewater State and Fitchburg State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
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