Bowie State University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and in-state Maryland residents. graduation rate is below 40%. a public school with 5,043 students.
About This School
Bowie State University is a public institution located in Bowie, Maryland with approximately 5,043 undergraduate students enrolled. Bowie State University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 72%. The average net price after financial aid is $19,298 per year. The graduation rate is 38%, and the typical graduate earns $48,700 within 10 years of enrollment.
Bowie State University is a public historically black university in the Prince George's County of the U.S. state of Maryland, north of Bowie. It is part of the University System of Maryland. Founded in 1865, Bowie State is Maryland's oldest historically black university and one of the ten oldest in the country. Bowie State is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: the relatively affordable net price ($19,335/year) and low median debt ($12,861) are genuinely appealing, but a 38% graduation rate is a real concern — meaning most students who start here don't finish, which is worth taking seriously. The 70% freshman retention rate suggests many students hit friction points after the first year, so incoming students should have a clear academic plan and take advantage of support resources early. Worth considering if you're drawn to an HBCU community, need an affordable option in the Maryland area, and are confident in your commitment to finishing — but go in with eyes open.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 0% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Bowie State University graduates earn most above the national rate in Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other ($97,030 vs $77,632 nationally), and most below it in Design and Applied Arts ($33,841 vs $51,490).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 147 | $70,427 | $68,257 | +$2,170 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 102 | $67,303 | $55,378 | +$11,925 |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | 97 | $56,818 | $44,889 | +$11,929 |
| Psychology, General | 87 | $54,082 | $50,706 | +$3,376 |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other | 68 | $97,030 | $77,632 | +$19,398 |
| Biology, General | 60 | $59,995 | $57,214 | +$2,781 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 43 | $33,841 | $51,490 | −$17,649 |
| Sociology | 35 | $57,075 | $52,657 | +$4,418 |
| Social Work | 32 | $57,224 | $51,790 | +$5,434 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 30 | $103,814 | $88,910 | +$14,904 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 27 | $60,746 | $47,382 | +$13,364 |
| History | 26 | $68,077 | $50,680 | +$17,397 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (5,043 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Bowie State University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Bowie State University?
Bowie State University has an acceptance rate of 72%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Bowie State University hard to get into?
Not especially. Bowie State University has an acceptance rate of 72%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Bowie State University cost?
The average net price at Bowie State University is about $19,298 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Bowie State University?
Bowie State University has a graduation rate of 38%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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