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Bridgewater State University: Boyden Hall, Bridgewater State University
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

College · Catholic life on campus

Bridgewater State University

  • LocationBridgewater, MA
  • Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 9,550 students
Official website
Campus Ministry Honor Roll badge

Bridgewater State University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

The Archdiocese of Boston lists Bridgewater State University among the colleges with an active campus ministry. The ministry is run by St. Thomas Aquinas Parish from its Catholic Center at St. Basil Chapel, 122 Park Ave., with a named campus chaplain, weekday and Saturday Mass at the parish, Sunday Mass at St. Basil Chapel, and Saturday confession. FOCUS lists the campus among those it serves.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 7

  • Saturday4:00 PMSt. Thomas Aquinas Church (vigil) · Parish Mass schedule; the parish runs the campus ministry.
  • Sunday7:30 AMSt. Thomas Aquinas Church
  • Sunday9:00 AMSt. Thomas Aquinas Church
  • Sunday10:30 AMSt. Basil Chapel
  • Sunday12:00 PMSt. Thomas Aquinas Church
  • Sunday5:00 PMSt. Thomas Aquinas Church
Show 1 more mass times
  • Monday–Saturday9:00 AMLower Church (church not named on the page)

Confession 2

  • Saturday9:45 AM–10:30 AMLower Church (church not named on the page) · Or by appointment.
  • Saturday12:00 PM–1:00 PMLower Church (church not named on the page)

Adoration 2

  • Friday9:30 AM–6:00 PMLower Church (church not named on the page) · First Fridays only.
  • Saturday9:45 AM–10:30 AMLower Church (church not named on the page) · After the Saturday Mass.

Times come only from official parish, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 12, 2026.

Sources for these times (1)
  1. St. Thomas Aquinas Parish | Bridgewater, MAstthomasaquinas.com · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Saturday Vigil : 4:00 PM Sunday : 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM”
    The parish lists a Saturday vigil Mass at 4:00 PM and Sunday Masses at 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.
    “Saturday Vigil : 4:00 PM Sunday : 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM”
    The parish lists a Saturday vigil Mass at 4:00 PM and Sunday Masses at 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.
    “Saturday Vigil : 4:00 PM Sunday : 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM”
    The parish lists a Saturday vigil Mass at 4:00 PM and Sunday Masses at 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.
    “ST. BASIL CHAPEL Sunday: 10:30 AM”
    The parish lists a Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM at St. Basil Chapel.
    “Saturday Vigil : 4:00 PM Sunday : 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM”
    The parish lists a Saturday vigil Mass at 4:00 PM and Sunday Masses at 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.
    “Saturday Vigil : 4:00 PM Sunday : 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM”
    The parish lists a Saturday vigil Mass at 4:00 PM and Sunday Masses at 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.
    “Daily Mass: Monday-Saturday : 9 AM (Lower Church)”
    The parish lists Mass Monday through Saturday at 9 AM in the Lower Church.
    “Confession: Saturday: 9:45 - 10:30 AM and 12:00 -1:00 PM (Lower Church) or by appointment”
    The parish lists Saturday confession times in the Lower Church, or by appointment.
    “Confession: Saturday: 9:45 - 10:30 AM and 12:00 -1:00 PM (Lower Church) or by appointment”
    The parish lists Saturday confession times in the Lower Church, or by appointment.
    “First Fridays: 9:30 - 6:00 PM (Lower Church)”
    The parish lists Eucharistic adoration on First Fridays from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM in the Lower Church.
    “Saturday: 9:45 - 10:30 AM (Lower Church after Mass)”
    The parish lists Saturday adoration from 9:45 to 10:30 AM in the Lower Church after Mass.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Bridgewater State University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.25 miBSU Campus Ministry, St. Basil Chapel (St. Thomas Aquinas Parish): 0.3 miBridgewater State University (campus)N0.1 mi
CampusCatholic centerOpen a street map ›

No Catholic churches are mapped in OpenStreetMap within 3 miles. The map may be incomplete; check the local diocese’s parish directory.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

ACatholic life on campus: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Catholic life on campus

85 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes
    Sources (1)
    1. College Campus Ministry | Archdiocese of Bostonbostoncatholic.org/college-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Babson College Bentley University Boston College Boston University Bridgewater State University”
      The Archdiocese of Boston lists Bridgewater State University among colleges with active campus ministry programs.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusYes (The ministry's Catholic Center is St. Basil Chapel at 122 Park Ave.)
    Sources (2)
    1. BSU Campus Ministry | St. Thomas Aquinas Parishstthomasaquinas.com/bsu-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Welcome to the Catholic Center! Here you will find a spot to pray, grow in Holiness”
      The parish's BSU campus ministry page calls its center the Catholic Center.
    2. St. Thomas Aquinas Parish | Bridgewater, MAstthomasaquinas.com · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “St. Basil Chapel 122 Park Ave. Bridgewater, MA 02324”
      St. Basil Chapel, the parish's second worship site, is at 122 Park Ave., Bridgewater.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryFull-time priest chaplain (The ministry page names Fr. John Saniuk as Campus Chaplain. The archdiocesan campus ministers list names a different priest for this campus; see gaps.)
    Sources (1)
    1. BSU Campus Ministry | St. Thomas Aquinas Parishstthomasaquinas.com/bsu-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Fr. John Saniuk Campus Chaplain 508-697-9528 FrJohn@sta-parish.org”
      Fr. John Saniuk is listed as campus chaplain, with a published email address.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryEvery weekday (5 or more weekdays) (The parish lists Mass Monday through Saturday at 9 AM in the Lower Church. The parish runs this ministry; its Masses are counted.)
    Sources (1)
    1. St. Thomas Aquinas Parish | Bridgewater, MAstthomasaquinas.com · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Daily Mass: Monday-Saturday : 9 AM (Lower Church)”
      The parish lists Mass Monday through Saturday at 9 AM in the Lower Church.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelTwo or more weekend Masses (Weekend Masses are listed at St. Basil Chapel (Sunday 10:30 AM) and at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. The parish runs this ministry; its Masses are counted.)
    Sources (1)
    1. St. Thomas Aquinas Parish | Bridgewater, MAstthomasaquinas.com · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Saturday Vigil : 4:00 PM Sunday : 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM”
      The parish lists a Saturday vigil Mass at 4:00 PM and Sunday Masses at 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.
      “ST. BASIL CHAPEL Sunday: 10:30 AM”
      The parish lists a Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM at St. Basil Chapel.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryWeekly or more often (Confession is listed on the parish's general schedule (Lower Church), not on the campus ministry page. Counted because the parish runs the ministry.)
    Sources (1)
    1. St. Thomas Aquinas Parish | Bridgewater, MAstthomasaquinas.com · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Confession: Saturday: 9:45 - 10:30 AM and 12:00 -1:00 PM (Lower Church) or by appointment”
      The parish lists Saturday confession times in the Lower Church, or by appointment.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)One (FOCUS is the only Catholic student group found on the public pages.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Campuses | FOCUSfocus.org/about/campuses · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Bridgewater State University”
      FOCUS lists Bridgewater State University among the campuses it serves.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • No: the school does not offer this, so it earns no points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)None mapped within 3 milesComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adoration12 to 19 times a week (16 weekly times documented: 12 Mass, 2 confession, 2 adoration.)Computed from the verified Mass, confession, and adoration times listed on this page (each day a time is offered counts once).

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • A campus chaplain is named on the ministry's page, with a published email address.
    Sources (1)
    1. BSU Campus Ministry | St. Thomas Aquinas Parishstthomasaquinas.com/bsu-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Fr. John Saniuk Campus Chaplain 508-697-9528 FrJohn@sta-parish.org”
      Fr. John Saniuk is listed as campus chaplain, with a published email address.
  • Mass is listed Monday through Saturday at 9 AM, and Sunday Mass is offered at St. Basil Chapel at 10:30 AM.
    Sources (1)
    1. St. Thomas Aquinas Parish | Bridgewater, MAstthomasaquinas.com · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Daily Mass: Monday-Saturday : 9 AM (Lower Church)”
      The parish lists Mass Monday through Saturday at 9 AM in the Lower Church.
      “ST. BASIL CHAPEL Sunday: 10:30 AM”
      The parish lists a Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM at St. Basil Chapel.
  • Saturday confession and adoration are listed on the parish's schedule.
    Sources (1)
    1. St. Thomas Aquinas Parish | Bridgewater, MAstthomasaquinas.com · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Confession: Saturday: 9:45 - 10:30 AM and 12:00 -1:00 PM (Lower Church) or by appointment”
      The parish lists Saturday confession times in the Lower Church, or by appointment.
      “Saturday: 9:45 - 10:30 AM (Lower Church after Mass)”
      The parish lists Saturday adoration from 9:45 to 10:30 AM in the Lower Church after Mass.

Concerns

  • Most of the listed times are at the parish church rather than a campus building.
    Sources (2)
    1. BSU Campus Ministry | St. Thomas Aquinas Parishstthomasaquinas.com/bsu-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Welcome to the Catholic Center! Here you will find a spot to pray, grow in Holiness”
      The parish's BSU campus ministry page calls its center the Catholic Center.
    2. St. Thomas Aquinas Parish | Bridgewater, MAstthomasaquinas.com · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Saturday Vigil : 4:00 PM Sunday : 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM”
      The parish lists a Saturday vigil Mass at 4:00 PM and Sunday Masses at 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.
  • FOCUS is the only Catholic student group found on public pages.
    Sources (1)
    1. Campuses | FOCUSfocus.org/about/campuses · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Bridgewater State University”
      FOCUS lists Bridgewater State University among the campuses it serves.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

BSU Campus Ministry, St. Basil Chapel (St. Thomas Aquinas Parish)

  • Address: 122 Park Ave., Bridgewater, MA 02324
  • Distance from campus: 0.3 mi (straight line from the campus point in federal IPEDS data)
  • Facilities: chapel, small dining area

View on map ↗

Source: stthomasaquinas.com, verified Oct. 12, 2026, stthomasaquinas.com, verified Oct. 12, 2026, stthomasaquinas.com, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

3 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 0 off campus, 3 location not published

Clubs and groups 1

  • FOCUS at Bridgewater State University
    FOCUS lists the campus among those it serves.
    focus.org

Liturgy and prayer 2

  • Divine Mercy Holy Hour
    Wednesdays 7:00 PM
    Holy hour listed on the parish home page, in the Lower Church.
    stthomasaquinas.com
  • Eucharistic adoration
    First Fridays 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM; Saturdays 9:45 to 10:30 AM
    Adoration listed on the parish home page in the Lower Church.
    stthomasaquinas.com, stthomasaquinas.com

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (4)
  1. College Campus Ministry | Archdiocese of Bostonbostoncatholic.org/college-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Babson College Bentley University Boston College Boston University Bridgewater State University”
    The Archdiocese of Boston lists Bridgewater State University among colleges with active campus ministry programs.
  2. BSU Campus Ministry | St. Thomas Aquinas Parishstthomasaquinas.com/bsu-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Welcome to the Catholic Center! Here you will find a spot to pray, grow in Holiness”
    The parish's BSU campus ministry page calls its center the Catholic Center.
    “Welcome to the Catholic Center! Here you will find a spot to pray, grow in Holiness”
    The parish's BSU campus ministry page calls its center the Catholic Center.
  3. St. Thomas Aquinas Parish | Bridgewater, MAstthomasaquinas.com · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “St. Basil Chapel 122 Park Ave. Bridgewater, MA 02324”
    St. Basil Chapel, the parish's second worship site, is at 122 Park Ave., Bridgewater.
  4. Facilities | St. Thomas Aquinas Parishstthomasaquinas.com/mission/vision/facilities · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “For a more intimate meeting space with a small dining area and direct access to a worship space”
    St. Basil Chapel has a small dining area and direct access to a worship space.

Reach out

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Academic Excellence

CAcademic Excellence: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
63 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.53%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.75%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,180 · ACT 27.5
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.17 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$11,273

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
8,172
Total students9,550
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$16,383
Cost of attendance (per year)$26,160
Median federal debt at graduation$24,286
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
53%
First-year retention75%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$57,466
Admission rate88%
Students receiving Pell grants32%
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1180
SAT reading & writing550–650
SAT math510–613
ACT composite25–30
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 56 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Archdiocese of Boston

The Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, Archbishop of Boston

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county using NCES Catholic school records. Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Bridgewater State University a Catholic college?
No. Bridgewater State University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by BSU Campus Ministry (St. Thomas Aquinas Parish).
What is Bridgewater State University’s Catholic Life Score?
80 out of 100 (grade A). It measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes, together with academics.
Where is Mass celebrated at Bridgewater State University?
Mass is listed at St. Thomas Aquinas Church (vigil), St. Thomas Aquinas Church, and St. Basil Chapel. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.

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