Bowie State University vs. PennWest Clarion

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

Bowie State University PennWest Clarion
Location Bowie, MD Clarion, PA
Setting Large Suburban Remote Town
Enrollment 6,275 3,922
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #962
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowiestate.edu clarion.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowie State University PennWest Clarion
Tuition (In State) $5,811 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $16,533 $11,574
Room & Board $12,468 $12,930
Avg Net Price $13,886 -
Avg Grant Aid $9,463 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 0%

Admission

Bowie State University PennWest Clarion
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,445 -
Admitted 4,712 -
Acceptance Rate 86.5%
Enrolled % 25.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range 800/1048
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 15, 2025

Academics

Bowie State University PennWest Clarion
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Bowie State University PennWest Clarion
Graduation Rate 41% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,500 $39,200
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,391 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $252 $268

Diversity

Bowie State University PennWest Clarion
% Men 37% 28%
% Women 63% 72%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 3% 83%
% Black 86% 8%
% 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 Clarion
% In-State 78% 94%
% Out-of-State 19% 5%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bowie State University is larger than than PennWest Clarion based on total student enrollment (6,275 students vs. 3,922 students)

Bowie State University vs. PennWest Clarion Cost Comparison

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

  • PennWest Clarion 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 Clarion ($16,533.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowie State University are 3.7% lower than costs at PennWest Clarion ($12,468 vs. $12,930)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bowie State University than PennWest Clarion (76% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowie State University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest Clarion ($9,463 vs. $0)

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

  • The average SAT score at PennWest Clarion (934) is 51 points higher than at Bowie State University (883)
  • Incoming PennWest Clarion students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at Bowie State University (18)
  • Accepted freshman PennWest Clarion students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Bowie State University (3.12)

Bowie State University vs. PennWest Clarion Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at PennWest Clarion is higher than Bowie State University (49% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $11,300 more per year than PennWest Clarion graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $39,200)
  • Bowie State University students graduate with a $1,609 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest Clarion graduates. ($24,391 vs. $26,000)
  • Bowie State University graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest Clarion graduates. ($252 vs. $268)
  • More PennWest Clarion graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 29%)

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