Bowling Green State University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and in-state Ohio residents. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 12,812 students.
About This School
Bowling Green State University is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Ohio with approximately 12,812 undergraduate students enrolled. Bowling Green State University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 81%. The average net price after financial aid is $24,022 per year. The graduation rate is 64%, and the typical graduate earns $45,300 within 10 years of enrollment.
Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is a public research university in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The 1,338-acre (541.5 ha) main academic and residential campus is 15 miles (24 km) south of Toledo, Ohio. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 as a normal school, specializing in teacher training and education. The university has developed from a small rural normal school into a comprehensive public research university. It is a part of the University System of Ohio and is currently classified as R2: Doctoral Universities with high research activity.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: with an 81% acceptance rate and an affordable average net price of $20,918/year, BGSU is accessible and reasonably priced, and the relatively low median debt of $17,500 at graduation is a genuine plus. However, the 63% graduation rate is a real concern — meaning roughly 1 in 3 students who start here don't finish — and median earnings of $45,300 a decade out are modest, so you'll want to research outcomes specifically for your intended major. Worth considering if you're drawn to education, have a clear plan to stay on track, and want an in-state Ohio school without a crushing debt load.
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: 13% 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.
Bowling Green State University graduates earn most above the national rate in Business Administration, Management and Operations ($79,291 vs $68,257 nationally), and most below it in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($78,798 vs $88,910).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Education and Teaching | 203 | $45,224 | $50,499 | −$5,275 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 139 | $45,168 | $47,382 | −$2,214 |
| Psychology, General | 127 | $46,481 | $50,706 | −$4,225 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 124 | $52,818 | $54,562 | −$1,744 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 122 | $79,291 | $68,257 | +$11,034 |
| Biology, General | 121 | $47,131 | $57,214 | −$10,083 |
| Marketing | 102 | $65,926 | $69,303 | −$3,377 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 101 | $78,798 | $88,910 | −$10,112 |
| Education, Other | 98 | $45,147 | $49,113 | −$3,966 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 92 | $52,068 | $55,378 | −$3,310 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 87 | $77,880 | $76,194 | +$1,686 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 85 | $76,659 | $83,343 | −$6,684 |
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 (12,812 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Bowling Green 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 Bowling Green State University?
Bowling Green State University has an acceptance rate of 81%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Bowling Green State University hard to get into?
Not especially. Bowling Green State University has an acceptance rate of 81%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Bowling Green State University cost?
The average net price at Bowling Green State University is about $24,022 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 Bowling Green State University?
Bowling Green State University has a graduation rate of 64%, 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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