Boise State vs. BGSU

Should I go to Boise State University or Bowling Green State University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Boise State 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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Boise State University vs. Bowling Green State University Main Campus comparison
Boise State University Bowling Green State University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Boise State University Bowling Green State University Main Campus
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Overview

Boise State BGSU
Location Boise, ID Bowling Green, OH
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 26,115 16,920
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #899 #728
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website boisestate.edu bgsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Boise State BGSU
Tuition (In State) $5,532 $11,272
Tuition (Out of State) $22,869 $19,845
Room & Board $13,841 $12,584
Avg Net Price $17,724 $20,485
Avg Grant Aid $9,892 $8,898
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 95%

Admission

Boise State BGSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,795 17,447
Admitted 14,096 13,723
Acceptance Rate 83.9% 78.7%
Enrolled % 22.2% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.37 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/26 20/25
SAT Range 1030/1210 990/1200
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Boise State BGSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

Boise State BGSU
Graduation Rate 29% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $43,600
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,929 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $237 $268

Diversity

Boise State BGSU
% Men 42% 42%
% Women 58% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 78%
% Black 2% 10%
% Hispanic 11% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 5% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Boise State BGSU
% In-State 59% 88%
% Out-of-State 40% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Boise State University is larger than than BGSU based on total student enrollment (26,115 students vs. 16,920 students)

Boise State vs. BGSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Boise State or BGSU?

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is 103.8% more expensive to attend than Boise State for in-state tuition ($11,272.00 vs. $5,532.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.2% higher at Boise State than Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($22,869.00 vs. $19,845.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boise State University than BGSU ($17,724 vs. $20,485)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowling Green State University Main Campus are 10% lower than costs at Boise State University ($12,584 vs. $13,841)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than Boise State University (95% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boise State University students is 11.2% larger than aid received Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($9,892 vs. $8,898)

Boise State vs. BGSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Boise State University (1046) is 34 points higher than at BGSU (1012)
  • Incoming Boise State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at BGSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman BGSU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Boise State (3.37)
  • Boise State has a higher acceptance rate (83.9%) than BGSU (78.7%)

Boise State vs. BGSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Boise State 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 Boise State.

  • The graduation rate at BGSU is higher than Boise State University (58% vs. 29%)
  • Graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn on average $2,000 more per year than Boise State graduates after ten years. ($43,600 vs. $41,600)
  • Boise State University students graduate with a $3,071 lower median federal student loan debt than BGSU graduates. ($22,929 vs. $26,000)
  • Boise State graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than BGSU graduates. ($237 vs. $268)
  • More Boise State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BGSU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 53%)

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