About Us

Bridgewater College is an independent, private liberal arts college founded in 1880. Located only two hours southwest of the Washington, D.C. metro area, Bridgewater has a total enrollment of more than 1650 students representing 24 states and five countries. Bridgewater admitted women from the time of its founding and was the first private liberal arts college in Virginia to do so.

Bridgewater offers bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees in more than 60 majors and minors, along with multiple concentrations, pre-professional programs such as medicine and law, dual degree programs and teacher certification. The College is a member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, with 20 intercollegiate athletic teams. The vibrant 300-acre residential campus includes an equestrian center and is located in the town of Bridgewater, Virginia, near the city of Harrisonburg in the center of the Shenandoah Valley. An excellent school system, healthy business environment, numerous arts and cultural events, the state's lowest crime rate, and a variety of outdoor opportunities and historic attractions draw many to the region.

Bridgewater College is recognized for its student-centered atmosphere and has been named "One of the Best Virginia Colleges and Universities in the Southeast," by The Princeton Review.