AQ vs. BGSU

Should I go to Aquinas College or Bowling Green State University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AQ or BGSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Aquinas College vs. Bowling Green State University Main Campus comparison
Aquinas College Bowling Green State University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Aquinas College Bowling Green State University Main Campus
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Overview

 AQ BGSU
Location Grand Rapids, MI Bowling Green, OH
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 1,265 16,920
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #819 #728
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website aquinas.edu bgsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 AQ BGSU
Tuition (In State) $36,480 $11,272
Tuition (Out of State) $36,480 $19,845
Room & Board $10,572 $12,584
Avg Net Price $18,605 $20,485
Avg Grant Aid $30,049 $8,898
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 95%

Admission

 AQ BGSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,116 17,447
Admitted 1,921 13,723
Acceptance Rate 90.8% 78.7%
Enrolled % 16% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/25
SAT Range 1000/1180 990/1200
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

 AQ BGSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

 AQ BGSU
Graduation Rate 52% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,000 $43,600
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $268

Diversity

 AQ BGSU
% Men 43% 42%
% Women 57% 58%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 78%
% Black 3% 10%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 AQ BGSU
% In-State 84% 88%
% Out-of-State 13% 11%

Campus

 AQ BGSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than than AQ based on total student enrollment (16,920 students vs. 1,265 students)

AQ vs. BGSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or BGSU?

  • Aquinas College is 223.6% more expensive to attend than BGSU for in-state tuition ($36,480.00 vs. $11,272.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 83.8% higher at AQ than Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($36,480.00 vs. $19,845.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Aquinas College than BGSU ($18,605 vs. $20,485)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 19% lower than costs at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($10,572 vs. $12,584)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Aquinas College than Bowling Green State University Main Campus (100% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 237.7% larger than aid received Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($30,049 vs. $8,898)

AQ vs. BGSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AQ or BGSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between BGSU or AQ .

  • The average SAT score at Aquinas College (1090) is 78 points higher than at BGSU (1012)
  • Incoming AQ students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at BGSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman BGSU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at AQ (3.52)
  • AQ has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than BGSU (78.7%)

AQ vs. BGSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AQ or BGSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between BGSU and AQ.

  • The graduation rate at BGSU is higher than Aquinas College (58% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn on average $3,600 more per year than AQ graduates after ten years. ($43,600 vs. $40,000)
  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus and AQ graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($26,000 vs. $26,000)
  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus and AQ graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($268 vs. $268)
  • More AQ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BGSU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/