BGSU vs. Cleveland State

Should I go to Bowling Green State University Main Campus or Cleveland State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BGSU or Cleveland State 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

University of Dayton Kent State University of Toledo UC Ohio State WSU Gannon University Ohio University Lewis University University of Akron Youngstown State Case Western
Bowling Green State University Main Campus vs. Cleveland State University comparison
Bowling Green State University Main Campus Cleveland State University College 3 College 4
Bowling Green State University Main Campus Cleveland State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 BGSU Cleveland State
Location Bowling Green, OH Cleveland, OH
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 16,920 14,385
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #728 #769
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bgsu.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 BGSU Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $11,272 $12,144
Tuition (Out of State) $19,845 $17,359
Room & Board $12,584 $14,197
Avg Net Price $20,485 $15,719
Avg Grant Aid $8,898 $9,436
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 91%

Admission

 BGSU Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,447 11,570
Admitted 13,723 9,872
Acceptance Rate 78.7% 85.3%
Enrolled % 21.4% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/25 18/25
SAT Range 990/1200 880/1130
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 Jul 15, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 BGSU Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 BGSU Cleveland State
Graduation Rate 58% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,600 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $222

Diversity

 BGSU Cleveland State
% Men 42% 46%
% Women 58% 54%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 78% 64%
% Black 10% 17%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

 BGSU Cleveland State
% In-State 88% 85%
% Out-of-State 11% 7%

Campus

 BGSU Cleveland State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than than Cleveland State based on total student enrollment (16,920 students vs. 14,385 students)

BGSU vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BGSU or Cleveland State?

  • Cleveland State University is 7.7% more expensive to attend than BGSU for in-state tuition ($12,144.00 vs. $11,272.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.3% higher at BGSU than Cleveland State University ($19,845.00 vs. $17,359.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cleveland State University than BGSU ($15,719 vs. $20,485)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowling Green State University Main Campus are 12.8% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($12,584 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than Cleveland State University (95% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland State University students is 6% larger than aid received Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($9,436 vs. $8,898)

BGSU vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Cleveland State University (1028) is 16 points higher than at BGSU (1012)
  • Incoming BGSU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Cleveland State (22)
  • Accepted freshman BGSU students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than BGSU (78.7%)

BGSU vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, BGSU or Cleveland State? 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 Cleveland State and BGSU.

  • The graduation rate at BGSU is higher than Cleveland State University (58% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $600 more per year than BGSU graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $43,600)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than BGSU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than BGSU graduates. ($222 vs. $268)
  • More BGSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 47%)

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