Bowie State University vs. Penn State Shenango

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

Bowie State University Penn State Shenango
Location Bowie, MD Sharon, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,275 281
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #962
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowiestate.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowie State University Penn State Shenango
Tuition (In State) $5,811 $13,568
Tuition (Out of State) $16,533 $22,650
Room & Board $12,468 $12,984
Avg Net Price $13,886 $16,778
Avg Grant Aid $9,463 $12,956
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 100%

Admission

Bowie State University Penn State Shenango
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,445 192
Admitted 4,712 167
Acceptance Rate 86.5% 87%
Enrolled % 25.2% 30.5%
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 required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 15, 2025

Academics

Bowie State University Penn State Shenango
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Work and Family Studies (32%)
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (6%)

Outcomes

Bowie State University Penn State Shenango
Graduation Rate 41% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,500 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,391 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $252 $277

Diversity

Bowie State University Penn State Shenango
% Men 37% 30%
% Women 63% 70%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 3% 85%
% Black 86% 7%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

Bowie State University Penn State Shenango
% In-State 78% 86%
% Out-of-State 19% 14%

Campus

Bowie State University Penn State Shenango
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 Penn State Shenango based on total student enrollment (6,275 students vs. 281 students)

Bowie State University vs. Penn State Shenango Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowie State University or Penn State Shenango?

  • Penn State Shenango is 133.5% more expensive to attend than Bowie State University for in-state tuition ($13,568.00 vs. $5,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 37% higher at Penn State Shenango than Bowie State University ($22,650.00 vs. $16,533.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowie State University than Penn State Shenango ($13,886 vs. $16,778)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowie State University are 4.1% lower than costs at Penn State Shenango ($12,468 vs. $12,984)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Penn State Shenango than Bowie State University (100% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Shenango students is 36.9% larger than aid received Bowie State University ($12,956 vs. $9,463)

Bowie State University vs. Penn State Shenango Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Penn State Shenango (942) is 59 points higher than at Bowie State University (883)
  • Incoming Penn State Shenango students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Bowie State University (18)
  • Penn State Shenango has a higher acceptance rate (87%) than Bowie State University (86.5%)

Bowie State University vs. Penn State Shenango Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowie State University or Penn State Shenango? 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 Penn State Shenango and Bowie State University.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State Shenango is higher than Bowie State University (44% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Shenango earn on average $4,800 more per year than Bowie State University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $50,500)
  • Bowie State University students graduate with a $2,427 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Shenango graduates. ($24,391 vs. $26,818)
  • Bowie State University graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Shenango graduates. ($252 vs. $277)
  • More Penn State Shenango graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 29%)

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