Bowie State University vs. NSU

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

Bowie State University NSU
Location Bowie, MD Norfolk, VA
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 6,408 6,045
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #943 #999
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowiestate.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowie State University NSU
Tuition (In State) $5,993 $5,926
Tuition (Out of State) $16,883 $17,428
Room & Board $13,272 $11,692
Avg Net Price $16,117 $12,272
Avg Grant Aid $8,730 $11,153
% Receiving Grant Aid 62% 97%

Admission

Bowie State University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,245 10,211
Admitted 5,217 8,931
Acceptance Rate 83.5% 87.5%
Enrolled % 19% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 2.9
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/21
SAT Range 796/1083 840/1100
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, 2026 May 31, 2026

Academics

Bowie State University NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Bowie State University NSU
Graduation Rate 41% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,500 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,391 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $252 $320

Diversity

Bowie State University NSU
% Men 5% 3%
% Women 12% 5%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 3% 5%
% Black 86% 84%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

Bowie State University NSU
% In-State 78% 65%
% Out-of-State 19% 31%

Campus

Bowie State University NSU
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 NSU based on total student enrollment (6,408 students vs. 6,045 students)

Bowie State University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

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

  • Bowie State University is 1.1% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($5,993.00 vs. $5,926.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.2% higher at NSU than Bowie State University ($17,428.00 vs. $16,883.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than Bowie State University ($12,272 vs. $16,117)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 13.5% lower than costs at Bowie State University ($11,692 vs. $13,272)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Norfolk State University than Bowie State University (97% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 27.8% larger than aid received Bowie State University ($11,153 vs. $8,730)

Bowie State University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bowie State University (883) is 75 points higher than at NSU (808)
  • Incoming Bowie State University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (18) than students at NSU (17)
  • Accepted freshman Bowie State University students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.12) than students at NSU (2.9)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Bowie State University (83.5%)

Bowie State University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Bowie State University is higher than Norfolk State University (41% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $13,800 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $36,700)
  • Bowie State University students graduate with a $6,609 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($24,391 vs. $31,000)
  • Bowie State University graduates are paying $68 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($252 vs. $320)
  • More Bowie State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (29% vs. 27%)

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