Bowie State University vs. PAFA

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

Bowie State University PAFA
Location Bowie, MD Philadelphia, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 6,275 172
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #962
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowiestate.edu pafa.org
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowie State University PAFA
Tuition (In State) $5,811 $40,500
Tuition (Out of State) $16,533 $40,500
Room & Board $12,468 $17,512
Avg Net Price $13,886 $48,191
Avg Grant Aid $9,463 $16,087
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 80%

Admission

Bowie State University PAFA
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,445 183
Admitted 4,712 167
Acceptance Rate 86.5% 91.3%
Enrolled % 25.2% 11.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 -
Typical High School Grades 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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Bowie State University PAFA
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 5:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)

Outcomes

Bowie State University PAFA
Graduation Rate 41% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,500 $22,000
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,391 $26,500
Median Loan Payment $252 $274

Diversity

Bowie State University PAFA
% Men 37% 31%
% Women 63% 69%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 3% 61%
% Black 86% 5%
% Hispanic 3% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 6%
% International 1% 6%
% Unknown Race 2% 7%

Students

Bowie State University PAFA
% In-State 78% 53%
% Out-of-State 19% 42%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bowie State University is larger than than PAFA based on total student enrollment (6,275 students vs. 172 students)

Bowie State University vs. PAFA Cost Comparison

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

  • Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is 597% more expensive to attend than Bowie State University for in-state tuition ($40,500.00 vs. $5,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 145% higher at PAFA than Bowie State University ($40,500.00 vs. $16,533.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowie State University than PAFA ($13,886 vs. $48,191)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowie State University are 40.5% lower than costs at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($12,468 vs. $17,512)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts than Bowie State University (80% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students is 70% larger than aid received Bowie State University ($16,087 vs. $9,463)

Bowie State University vs. PAFA Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • PAFA has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than Bowie State University (86.5%)

Bowie State University vs. PAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at PAFA is higher than Bowie State University (73% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $28,500 more per year than PAFA graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $22,000)
  • Bowie State University students graduate with a $2,109 lower median federal student loan debt than PAFA graduates. ($24,391 vs. $26,500)
  • Bowie State University graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than PAFA graduates. ($252 vs. $274)
  • More PAFA 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/