Bowie State University vs. Mercyhurst College

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

Bowie State University Mercyhurst College
Location Bowie, MD Erie, PA
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 6,275 2,801
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #962
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowiestate.edu mercyhurst.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowie State University Mercyhurst College
Tuition (In State) $5,811 $40,530
Tuition (Out of State) $16,533 $40,530
Room & Board $12,468 $14,025
Avg Net Price $13,886 $24,935
Avg Grant Aid $9,463 $32,418
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 95%

Admission

Bowie State University Mercyhurst College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,445 3,625
Admitted 4,712 2,920
Acceptance Rate 86.5% 80.6%
Enrolled % 25.2% 18.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 3.36
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) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline May 15, 2025

Academics

Bowie State University Mercyhurst College
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (19%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (7%)
  • General Studies (5%)

Outcomes

Bowie State University Mercyhurst College
Graduation Rate 41% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,500 $43,700
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,391 $26,698
Median Loan Payment $252 $276

Diversity

Bowie State University Mercyhurst College
% Men 37% 40%
% Women 63% 60%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 3% 73%
% Black 86% 6%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 1%
% International 1% 11%
% Unknown Race 2% 4%

Students

Bowie State University Mercyhurst College
% In-State 78% 51%
% Out-of-State 19% 45%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bowie State University is larger than than Mercyhurst College based on total student enrollment (6,275 students vs. 2,801 students)

Bowie State University vs. Mercyhurst College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowie State University or Mercyhurst College?

  • Mercyhurst College is 597.5% more expensive to attend than Bowie State University for in-state tuition ($40,530.00 vs. $5,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 145.1% higher at Mercyhurst College than Bowie State University ($40,530.00 vs. $16,533.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowie State University than Mercyhurst College ($13,886 vs. $24,935)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowie State University are 12.5% lower than costs at Mercyhurst College ($12,468 vs. $14,025)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mercyhurst College than Bowie State University (95% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercyhurst College students is 242.6% larger than aid received Bowie State University ($32,418 vs. $9,463)

Bowie State University vs. Mercyhurst College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Mercyhurst College students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Bowie State University (3.12)
  • Bowie State University has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than Mercyhurst College (80.6%)

Bowie State University vs. Mercyhurst College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowie State University or Mercyhurst College? 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 Mercyhurst College and Bowie State University.

  • The graduation rate at Mercyhurst College is higher than Bowie State University (68% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $6,800 more per year than Mercyhurst College graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $43,700)
  • Bowie State University students graduate with a $2,307 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercyhurst College graduates. ($24,391 vs. $26,698)
  • Bowie State University graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Mercyhurst College graduates. ($252 vs. $276)
  • More Mercyhurst College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 29%)

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