Bowie State University vs. Cleveland State

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

 Bowie State University Cleveland State
Location Bowie, MD Cleveland, OH
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 6,275 14,385
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #962 #769
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowiestate.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Bowie State University Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $5,811 $12,144
Tuition (Out of State) $16,533 $17,359
Room & Board $12,468 $14,197
Avg Net Price $13,886 $15,719
Avg Grant Aid $9,463 $9,436
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 91%

Admission

 Bowie State University Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,445 11,570
Admitted 4,712 9,872
Acceptance Rate 86.5% 85.3%
Enrolled % 25.2% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 3.31
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25
SAT Range 800/1048 880/1130
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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 Bowie State University Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 Bowie State University Cleveland State
Graduation Rate 41% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,500 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,391 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $252 $222

Diversity

 Bowie State University Cleveland State
% Men 37% 46%
% Women 63% 54%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 3% 64%
% Black 86% 17%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

 Bowie State University Cleveland State
% In-State 78% 85%
% Out-of-State 19% 7%

Campus

 Bowie State University Cleveland State
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

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than Bowie State University based on total student enrollment (14,385 students vs. 6,275 students)

Bowie State University vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

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

  • Cleveland State University is 109% more expensive to attend than Bowie State University for in-state tuition ($12,144.00 vs. $5,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5% higher at Cleveland State than Bowie State University ($17,359.00 vs. $16,533.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowie State University than Cleveland State ($13,886 vs. $15,719)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowie State University are 13.9% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($12,468 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cleveland State University than Bowie State University (91% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowie State University students is 0.3% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($9,463 vs. $9,436)

Bowie State University vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Cleveland State University (1028) is 145 points higher than at Bowie State University (883)
  • Incoming Cleveland State students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Bowie State University (18)
  • Accepted freshman Cleveland State students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Bowie State University (3.12)
  • Bowie State University has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than Cleveland State (85.3%)

Bowie State University vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Bowie State University is higher than Cleveland State University (41% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $6,300 more per year than Cleveland State graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $44,200)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $2,891 lower median federal student loan debt than Bowie State University graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,391)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than Bowie State University graduates. ($222 vs. $252)
  • More Cleveland State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 29%)

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