Bowie State University vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowie State University in Bowie, MD with Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Bowie State University is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (6,353 students vs. 414 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowie State University is located in Bowie, MD (Large Suburban setting); Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
• Bowie State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowie State University 15:1; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowie State University are 29% lower than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($12,241 vs. $17,230).
• Out-of-state tuition is 61.2% higher at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Bowie State University (about $12,212 more per year; $32,150 vs. $19,938).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Bowie State University (100% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students is 119.8% larger than aid received by Bowie State University students ($14,989 vs. $6,819).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Bowie State University, test-free at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowie State University May 15, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design average a 3.13 high school GPA, 0.01 higher than at Bowie State University (3.12).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.3% at Bowie State University vs. 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bowie State University graduates have a $2,609 lower median loan debt than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($24,391 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Bowie State University graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($252 vs. $279).
• More Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation (58% vs. 29%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.