Bowie State University vs. PennWest California

Should I go to Bowie State University or PennWest California? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bowie State University or PennWest California 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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Bowie State University vs. PennWest California comparison
Bowie State University PennWest California College 3 College 4
Bowie State University PennWest California
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Overview

Bowie State University PennWest California
Location Bowie, MD California, PA
Setting Large Suburban Town Fringe
Enrollment 6,275 6,509
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #962 #1033
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowiestate.edu calu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowie State University PennWest California
Tuition (In State) $5,811 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $16,533 $11,574
Room & Board $12,468 $10,416
Avg Net Price $13,886 -
Avg Grant Aid $9,463 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 0%

Admission

Bowie State University PennWest California
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,445 -
Admitted 4,712 -
Acceptance Rate 86.5%
Enrolled % 25.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 3.31
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 800/1048 940/1150
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 15, 2025 Aug 22, 2025

Academics

Bowie State University PennWest California
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)

Outcomes

Bowie State University PennWest California
Graduation Rate 41% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,500 $42,500
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,391 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $252 $258

Diversity

Bowie State University PennWest California
% Men 37% 39%
% Women 63% 61%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 3% 77%
% Black 86% 12%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Bowie State University PennWest California
% In-State 78% 86%
% Out-of-State 19% 13%

Campus

Bowie State University PennWest California
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • PennWest California is larger than than Bowie State University based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 6,275 students)

Bowie State University vs. PennWest California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowie State University or PennWest California?

  • PennWest California is 32.8% more expensive to attend than Bowie State University for in-state tuition ($7,716.00 vs. $5,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 42.8% higher at Bowie State University than PennWest California ($16,533.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 19.7% lower than costs at Bowie State University ($10,416 vs. $12,468)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bowie State University than PennWest California (76% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowie State University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($9,463 vs. $0)

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

  • The average SAT score at PennWest California (922) is 39 points higher than at Bowie State University (883)
  • Incoming PennWest California students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at Bowie State University (18)
  • Accepted freshman PennWest California students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Bowie State University (3.12)

Bowie State University vs. PennWest California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowie State University or PennWest California? 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 PennWest California and Bowie State University.

  • The graduation rate at PennWest California is higher than Bowie State University (53% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $8,000 more per year than PennWest California graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $42,500)
  • Bowie State University students graduate with a $609 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest California graduates. ($24,391 vs. $25,000)
  • Bowie State University graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest California graduates. ($252 vs. $258)
  • More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 29%)

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