Bowie State University vs. Central State University

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

Bowie State University Central State University
Location Bowie, MD Wilberforce, OH
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 6,275 5,434
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #962 #1023
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowiestate.edu centralstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowie State University Central State University
Tuition (In State) $5,811 $5,176
Tuition (Out of State) $16,533 $7,176
Room & Board $12,468 $10,900
Avg Net Price $13,886 $10,194
Avg Grant Aid $9,463 $6,943
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 91%

Admission

Bowie State University Central State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,445 3,814
Admitted 4,712 3,388
Acceptance Rate 86.5% 88.8%
Enrolled % 25.2% 18.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 2.8
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 14/18
SAT Range 800/1048 770/950
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 May 15, 2025

Academics

Bowie State University Central State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 21:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Bowie State University Central State University
Graduation Rate 41% 24%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,500 $27,200
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 16%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,391 $39,000
Median Loan Payment $252 $403

Diversity

Bowie State University Central State University
% Men 37% 30%
% Women 63% 70%
Racial Diversity Very Low Extremely Low
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 3% 1%
% Black 86% 95%
% Hispanic 3% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 1%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Bowie State University Central State University
% In-State 78% 55%
% Out-of-State 19% 36%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bowie State University is larger than than Central State University based on total student enrollment (6,275 students vs. 5,434 students)

Bowie State University vs. Central State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowie State University or Central State University?

  • Bowie State University is 12.3% more expensive to attend than Central State University for in-state tuition ($5,811.00 vs. $5,176.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 130.4% higher at Bowie State University than Central State University ($16,533.00 vs. $7,176.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central State University than Bowie State University ($10,194 vs. $13,886)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central State University are 14.4% lower than costs at Bowie State University ($10,900 vs. $12,468)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central State University than Bowie State University (91% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowie State University students is 36.3% larger than aid received Central State University ($9,463 vs. $6,943)

Bowie State University vs. Central State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bowie State University (883) is 106 points higher than at Central State University (777)
  • Incoming Bowie State University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (18) than students at Central State University (16)
  • Accepted freshman Bowie State University students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.12) than students at Central State University (2.8)
  • Central State University has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than Bowie State University (86.5%)

Bowie State University vs. Central State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowie State University or Central State University? 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 Central State University and Bowie State University.

  • The graduation rate at Bowie State University is higher than Central State University (41% vs. 24%)
  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $23,300 more per year than Central State University graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $27,200)
  • Bowie State University students graduate with a $14,609 lower median federal student loan debt than Central State University graduates. ($24,391 vs. $39,000)
  • Bowie State University graduates are paying $151 less per month on federal student loans than Central State University graduates. ($252 vs. $403)
  • More Bowie State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central State University students, three years after graduation. (29% vs. 16%)

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