Public
Accredited · New England Commission on Higher Education
Fall River, Massachusetts
Bristol Community College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$11,846Annual Cost
$38,663Grad Salary
43.4%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$6,235
Need-Based Aid
43.4% receive Pell
Bristol Community College MA Bristol Community College serves students through transfer pathways, workforce development, and career education programs. Many students continue to public and private universities throughout Massachusetts after completing coursework at Bristol.\n\nThe college offers strengths in healthcare, business, STEM fields, liberal arts, and technical education. Flexible learning options and extensive support services help students achieve both academic and career goals.
Bristol Community College Acceptance Rate
Bristol Community College (Bristol) maintains an inclusive admission policy. With an acceptance rate of 100%, the institution prioritizes accessibility and opportunity for all qualified students.
Admissions Guidelines
- Inclusive Enrollment: Emphasis is placed on meeting basic eligibility and high school completion.
- Launchpad Policy: Ideal for students looking to build a GPA for future transfer or career certification.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
If your GPA is slightly below the institutional average, you can remain competitive by scoring well on standardized tests and showcasing leadership in co-curricular activities.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Bristol Community College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Bristol Community College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Bristol reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (March 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at Bristol
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Bristol Community College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Bristol Community College (Bristol) Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into Bristol Without SAT or ACT?
The admission test score (SAT/ACT) policy for Bristol Community College is unknown. But it is better to submit the test score if you have performed well in the test. It gives an extra opportunity to showcase your skills and competencies and hence will improve your chances of admission. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. But if your score is not up to the mark and is less than the national or state average, then it is better not to submit the score as it will impact negatively.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Bristol
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Bristol provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about utilizing resources and planning your long-term academic or career trajectory.
Hit the Combined 3.2 GPA on Specific Prerequisites - Not Your Overall College GPA
Bristol's nursing program calculates a "selective admissions GPA" from a defined set of prerequisite courses only, requiring a minimum combined 3.2 with each course completed at a B- or higher - a narrower and stricter bar than your general transcript GPA. Track this specific course-based GPA separately from your overall GPA throughout your prerequisite semesters, since a strong overall GPA padded by unrelated electives won't help if your prerequisite-specific GPA falls short of 3.2.
Understand the Multi-Tiered Ranking System - TEAS and Application Date Are Tiebreakers, Not Primary Factors
Bristol ranks applicants primarily by selective admissions GPA; only when GPAs tie does TEAS score become the deciding factor, and only if that also ties does application date matter. Focus your primary effort on maximizing your specific prerequisite GPA rather than over-indexing on the TEAS, since GPA carries more ranking weight than test performance in Bristol's specific system.
Use the LPN-to-RN Bridge Pathway's Credit-for-Prior-Learning Assessment If You Graduated From a Specific Partner High School Program
Bristol's LPN-to-RN Bridge option is restricted to graduates of five named regional vocational/technical high school LPN programs (Diman Regional, Bristol-Plymouth, Upper Cape Cod, Southeastern Technical Institute, Tri-County) within 3 years of application, and requires passing a Credit for Prior Learning assessment to skip directly into third-semester nursing courses. If you graduated from one of these specific five schools, pursue this accelerated bridge rather than the standard General Applicant track, since it can save an entire year of coursework.
Choose Emmanuel College or Fitchburg State for RN-to-BSN Based on Format Preference, Not Just Availability
Bristol has two distinct BSN completion partnerships - Emmanuel College (online, hybrid, accelerated, rolling admission with 6 start terms per year) and Fitchburg State (online, requires 2.5+ GPA and passing NCLEX-RN first, courses starting every 7 weeks) - each with different requirements and timing. Compare these two named programs directly against your post-graduation timeline and GPA rather than defaulting to whichever one your advisor mentions first.
Expert Insight:
Nursing applicants planning around medical marijuana use should know that despite Massachusetts state law permitting medical marijuana, Bristol Community College's nursing program explicitly prohibits any possession, use, distribution, or cultivation of marijuana under college policy due to federal law - and the program requires a ten-panel random drug screen both upon entrance and at random intervals throughout the program, a stricter standard than general Massachusetts law would suggest.
Bristol Profile
Full Name
Bristol Community College (Bristol)
City
Fall River
State
Massachusetts
ZIP Code
02720-7395
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
Is a Bristol Degree Worth It?
Getting into Bristol can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. Bristol offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at Bristol is $55,600 and the graduate unemployment rate is 3.88%.
How much does a degree from Bristol Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at Bristol Community College is $11,846. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Bristol Community College is $6,235.
43.4% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 30.6 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to Bristol and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At Bristol Community College, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist Bristol as your choice in the form.
How much does a Bristol Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $38,663. An average Bristol graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Degree Programs at Bristol
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Full list of all degree programs offered by Bristol Community College →
Frequently Asked Questions About Bristol Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a lower salary, $38,663 annually, especially in non-technical fields.
The tuition fee at this university is relatively low, around $11,846 per year, making it more affordable for many students.
43.4% of students receive a Pell Grant at this institution. Your chances of need-based aid are moderate and depend primarily on your household income. Filing FAFSA early significantly improves your chances of receiving the maximum available grant amount.
The scholarship priority deadline is March 1, 2026. Submit your FAFSA before this date for maximum aid consideration.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.
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