BGSU vs. RU

Should I go to Bowling Green State University Main Campus or Radford University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BGSU or RU 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. 

Kent State Old Dominion Longwood University University of Toledo Cleveland State Ohio University JMU Ohio State Miami UC VSU GVSU
Bowling Green State University Main Campus vs. Radford University comparison
Bowling Green State University Main Campus Radford University College 3 College 4
Bowling Green State University Main Campus Radford University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

BGSU RU
Location Bowling Green, OH Radford, VA
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 16,920 7,718
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #728 #566
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bgsu.edu radford.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

BGSU RU
Tuition (In State) $11,272 $8,156
Tuition (Out of State) $19,845 $20,246
Room & Board $12,584 $10,567
Avg Net Price $20,485 $17,105
Avg Grant Aid $8,898 $9,733
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 96%

Admission

BGSU RU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,447 11,442
Admitted 13,723 10,680
Acceptance Rate 78.7% 93.3%
Enrolled % 21.4% 11.5%
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 19/23
SAT Range 990/1200 960/1160
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

Academics

BGSU RU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

BGSU RU
Graduation Rate 58% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,600 $47,400
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $237

Diversity

BGSU RU
% Men 42% 33%
% Women 58% 67%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 71%
% Black 10% 13%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

BGSU RU
% In-State 88% 89%
% Out-of-State 11% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than than RU based on total student enrollment (16,920 students vs. 7,718 students)

BGSU vs. RU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BGSU or RU?

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is 38.2% more expensive to attend than RU for in-state tuition ($11,272.00 vs. $8,156.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2% higher at RU than Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($20,246.00 vs. $19,845.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Radford University than BGSU ($17,105 vs. $20,485)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Radford University are 19.1% lower than costs at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($10,567 vs. $12,584)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Radford University than Bowling Green State University Main Campus (96% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Radford University students is 9.4% larger than aid received Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($9,733 vs. $8,898)

BGSU vs. RU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman BGSU students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at RU (3.31)
  • RU has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than BGSU (78.7%)

BGSU vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, BGSU or RU? 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 RU and BGSU.

  • The graduation rate at BGSU is higher than Radford University (58% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Radford University earn on average $3,800 more per year than BGSU graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $43,600)
  • Radford University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than BGSU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $26,000)
  • RU graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than BGSU graduates. ($237 vs. $268)
  • More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BGSU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 53%)

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