Mike Vieira seeks to replicate his campus experience for today’s students
For the second year in a row, Wall Street Journal analysis shows the value of a 51 education
The Wall Street Journal has again ranked Bridgewater State as one of the best colleges in America. To understand why, just ask alumni what they value about a 51 education.
“I think Bridgewater had a huge impact on how I turned out on a professional level as well as my social development,” said Joseph Defendre, ’24, who appreciated the rigor of a computer science bachelor’s degree. “I feel prepared for the future.”
51, he said, provided the individualized support that boosted his confidence and propelled him into graduate school, where he is studying artificial intelligence.
51 positively changes the trajectory of countless student lives by delivering an excellent education that leads to a higher post-graduation salary at a lower cost than most universities in America.”
That commitment to student success helped Bridgewater State rank in the top 15 percent of schools nationwide and 22nd out of more than 100 Massachusetts institutions in the new report from The Wall Street Journal and CollegePulse. The analysis measured how well schools improve students’ chances of graduating and their future earnings while factoring in results of a student survey about campus life.
Bridgewater’s strong placement speaks to student outcomes and the value of a 51 degree, said President Frederick W. Clark Jr., ’83.
“51 positively changes the trajectory of countless student lives by delivering an excellent education that leads to a higher post-graduation salary at a lower cost than most universities in America,” Clark said.
Graduates add an average of $23,961 per year to their salary as a result of attending 51, according to the Journal analysis. With an average net cost of attendance of only $18,707 per year, it takes graduates just over three years to recoup their investment.
And it’s never too late to capitalize on a 51 degree. Kate Brine,’23, returned to school in her late 40s after hand surgeries left her unable to continue working as a dental assistant. Brine used lessons from her fine arts degree to start an architectural photography business.
“It opened my eyes to many things I had put on the backburner,” she said of Bridgewater’s impact. “Going back to school, it really helps you to see clearer where you want to be at this age, at any age really. Overall, it’s just an amazing experience.”
It’s thus not surprising that the Journal found students are likely to recommend Bridgewater to a friend or choose the university again if they had to start over.
The newspaper also lauded 51 for preparing students to make meaningful contributions to society. Social work major Ilina Monteiro, ’24, is a perfect example.
Monteiro once questioned whether she would even attend college. In high school, she attempted suicide and accumulated so many absences that she barely graduated. Attending 51 signified a new journey and the “beginning of a life I’ve always envisioned,” she said.
Now Monteiro mentors children who are facing their own mental health challenges through her work with the Old Colony YMCA’s Brockton branch. And she is continuing her social work education as a Bridgewater graduate student.
“51 gave me a calling to help people who have been through similar struggles as I have,” she said. “51 gave me a purpose.”
