Bowie State University vs. Marshall University

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

Bowie State University Marshall University
Location Bowie, MD Huntington, WV
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 6,275 10,691
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #962 #813
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowiestate.edu marshall.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowie State University Marshall University
Tuition (In State) $5,811 $7,190
Tuition (Out of State) $16,533 $18,244
Room & Board $12,468 $11,840
Avg Net Price $13,886 $8,756
Avg Grant Aid $9,463 $11,221
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 96%

Admission

Bowie State University Marshall University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,445 6,356
Admitted 4,712 6,158
Acceptance Rate 86.5% 96.9%
Enrolled % 25.2% 25.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 3.68
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25
SAT Range 800/1048 930/1150
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 10, 2025

Academics

Bowie State University Marshall University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Bowie State University Marshall University
Graduation Rate 41% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,500 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,391 $23,134
Median Loan Payment $252 $239

Diversity

Bowie State University Marshall University
% Men 37% 40%
% Women 63% 60%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 3% 84%
% Black 86% 7%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Bowie State University Marshall University
% In-State 78% 79%
% Out-of-State 19% 20%

Campus

Bowie State University Marshall 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

  • Marshall University is larger than than Bowie State University based on total student enrollment (10,691 students vs. 6,275 students)

Bowie State University vs. Marshall University Cost Comparison

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

  • Marshall University is 23.7% more expensive to attend than Bowie State University for in-state tuition ($7,190.00 vs. $5,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.3% higher at Marshall University than Bowie State University ($18,244.00 vs. $16,533.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Marshall University than Bowie State University ($8,756 vs. $13,886)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Marshall University are 5.3% lower than costs at Bowie State University ($11,840 vs. $12,468)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Marshall University than Bowie State University (96% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Marshall University students is 18.6% larger than aid received Bowie State University ($11,221 vs. $9,463)

Bowie State University vs. Marshall University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Marshall University (1028) is 145 points higher than at Bowie State University (883)
  • Incoming Marshall University students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Bowie State University (18)
  • Accepted freshman Marshall University students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Bowie State University (3.12)
  • Marshall University has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Bowie State University (86.5%)

Bowie State University vs. Marshall University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowie State University or Marshall 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 Marshall University and Bowie State University.

  • The graduation rate at Marshall University is higher than Bowie State University (44% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $10,300 more per year than Marshall University graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $40,200)
  • Marshall University students graduate with a $1,257 lower median federal student loan debt than Bowie State University graduates. ($23,134 vs. $24,391)
  • Marshall University graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Bowie State University graduates. ($239 vs. $252)
  • More Marshall University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 29%)

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