University of Bridgeport

Gaining admission to the University of Bridgeport is relatively easy, but the university encounters significant challenges in convincing admitted applicants to enroll. In the 2027 U.S. News rankings, the university was ranked 376th among national universities, recovering somewhat after dropping to 395th in 2026. For the 2025 admissions cycle, Bridgeport admitted 83% of its applicants, an acceptance rate that was higher than 67% of peer schools in its comparison group of 30 private comprehensive universities with similar rankings. However, the university struggles to draw admitted students to its campus. Its yield rate stood at just 4.9% in 2025, which was lower than all peer schools in the comparison group. With female applicants admitted at higher rates than male applicants, prospective undergraduate applicants can generally expect accessible admissions standards. At the same time, the unusually low yield indicates that many admitted students ultimately choose other educational options rather than matriculating at Bridgeport.

University of Bridgeport maintains an admissions test policy that is optional, with scores considered if submitted. Standardized testing requirements are moderate for those who send results, reflecting accessible academic benchmarks. The published score ranges from 2024 place the middle 50% of SAT Reading and Writing between 470 and 585, while the middle 50% of SAT Math ranges from 410 to 530. Submission of testing has become uncommon among incoming undergraduates, with only 1% of enrolled freshmen submitting SAT scores in 2025. For prospective students planning their college applications, these figures indicate that submitting SAT scores around or above the 2024 midpoints matches the typical credentials of reporting students, while those with lower marks or without exam results can rely on other components of their application under the test-optional policy.

Undergraduate degrees at the University of Bridgeport are concentrated in a small selection of programs, with the top three majors accounting for 49% of all bachelor's graduates in 2025. The single largest undergraduate program is Registered Nursing, which produced 124 graduates that year. While nursing is the most heavily enrolled undergraduate discipline, the school's most prominent nationally evaluated program in the U.S. News rankings is graduate-level Physician Assistant Studies, which was ranked 75th in 2025. In contrast, larger graduate offerings such as computer science hold rankings outside the top two hundred. Bachelor's programs in professional healthcare also deliver the strongest early career financial outcomes. In 2023 earnings data, graduates in Registered Nursing and related clinical nursing fields achieved median earnings of $95,261 one year after graduation, leading all undergraduate disciplines. For prospective students, these patterns demonstrate that Bridgeport’s primary academic and financial returns are concentrated in its specialized clinical health programs.

The student body at the University of Bridgeport is predominantly concentrated at the advanced degree level and exhibits distinct demographic profiles across programs. In 2025, total enrollment reached 3,838 students, with graduate students comprising the majority of the campus at 2,268 individuals. International students form the single largest demographic contingent within the graduate division, totaling 1,111 students. Asian representation remains modest across academic levels, including 107 students in the graduate population, while comprising only a small fraction of undergraduate cohorts. The undergraduate community is largely composed of Black and Hispanic students, alongside a notable female majority across degree programs. For prospective applicants, Bridgeport offers an educational environment where graduate degree tracks are heavily shaped by international students, while the undergraduate population reflects substantial domestic racial and ethnic diversity.

Undergraduate and graduate programs at the University of Bridgeport cater to noticeably different age groups. In 2025, the undergraduate population was primarily centered on traditional college ages, with students aged 20 to 21 accounting for 24.2% of undergraduates, and those aged 18 to 19 representing 21.6%. In contrast, the graduate division draws students pursuing early-career advancement and mid-career transitions. The largest graduate group consisted of students aged 22 to 24, who made up 37.1% of graduate enrollment, followed by students aged 25 to 29 at 28.4%. This clear separation indicates that undergraduate campus life revolves around students entering directly from high school, whereas the graduate environment consists of young professionals focusing on career preparation and professional training.

International enrollment patterns at the University of Bridgeport reveal a sharp divergence between undergraduate and graduate divisions. At the undergraduate level, the international presence has declined significantly over the past decade, falling to 4.8% of undergraduates in 2025. In contrast, the graduate division maintains an expansive international focus, with international scholars comprising 49% of all graduate students that year. This divide is clearly reflected among degree recipients: while international students earned a minimal share of bachelor's diplomas, they accounted for 67.1% of all master's degrees conferred in 2025. Furthermore, international graduate students are overwhelmingly concentrated in technical fields, representing 98.9% of master's degree recipients in Computer Science. Conversely, domestic students make up the overwhelming majority of undergraduate healthcare graduates. For prospective international students, these trends indicate that Bridgeport's international network is centered almost entirely within graduate engineering and technical disciplines.

Prospective applicants considering the University of Bridgeport can evaluate several other four-year institutions located within the surrounding region. Situated just 3.5 kilometers away, Fairfield University is a National University ranked 109 in the 2027 U.S. News rankings. Also in close proximity is Sacred Heart University, a National University holding a rank of 202, located only 4.8 kilometers from Bridgeport. Further east along the Connecticut coast, Yale University is a National University ranked 4th nationally, situated approximately 17 kilometers away. In addition, Quinnipiac University, ranked 156 among National Universities, is located 23.3 kilometers from the Bridgeport campus. These neighboring universities provide families with several alternative collegiate settings across Fairfield and New Haven counties.

Campus safety records at the University of Bridgeport indicate that student disciplinary referrals constitute the primary share of documented security incidents. The university recorded a crime rate per 1,000 students of 7 in 2025, maintaining a consistent level over recent years. Between 2023 and 2025, the vast majority of campus incidents involved institutional disciplinary violations rather than violent criminal offenses. Over this three-year period, alcohol-related disciplinary referrals formed the largest category, totaling 117 incidents, followed by 51 disciplinary referrals for drug violations. Criminal offenses occurred with much lower frequency across the same timeframe, including 14 burglaries alongside a small number of robberies and harassment cases. These figures demonstrate that security activity at Bridgeport is largely driven by internal student conduct enforcement rather than widespread crime, offering prospective students and families a stable campus environment focused primarily on alcohol and substance policy monitoring.