BGSU vs. University of Dayton

Should I go to Bowling Green State University Main Campus or University of Dayton? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BGSU or University of Dayton 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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Bowling Green State University Main Campus vs. University of Dayton comparison
Bowling Green State University Main Campus University of Dayton College 3 College 4
Bowling Green State University Main Campus University of Dayton
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Overview

BGSU University of Dayton
Location Bowling Green, OH Dayton, OH
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 17,027 11,304
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #687 #206
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bgsu.edu udayton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

BGSU University of Dayton
Tuition (In State) $11,611 $47,600
Tuition (Out of State) $19,600 $47,600
Room & Board $11,784 $15,640
Avg Net Price $20,987 $31,551
Avg Grant Aid $8,795 $31,852
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 95%

Admission

BGSU University of Dayton
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 18,629 22,747
Admitted 15,016 14,023
Acceptance Rate 80.6% 61.6%
Enrolled % 20.7% 13.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.77
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Moderate Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 26/31
SAT Range 1020/1230 1195/1370
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, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

BGSU University of Dayton
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Business (28%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Health Professions (5%)

Outcomes

BGSU University of Dayton
Graduation Rate 58% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,600 $57,300
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 84%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $268

Diversity

BGSU University of Dayton
% Men 7% 14%
% Women 11% 14%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 78%
% Black 10% 3%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 11%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

BGSU University of Dayton
% In-State 87% 54%
% Out-of-State 12% 45%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than than University of Dayton based on total student enrollment (17,027 students vs. 11,304 students)

BGSU vs. University of Dayton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BGSU or University of Dayton?

  • University of Dayton is 310% more expensive to attend than BGSU for in-state tuition ($47,600.00 vs. $11,611.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 142.9% higher at University of Dayton than Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($47,600.00 vs. $19,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than University of Dayton ($20,987 vs. $31,551)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowling Green State University Main Campus are 32.7% lower than costs at University of Dayton ($11,784 vs. $15,640)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Dayton than Bowling Green State University Main Campus (95% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Dayton students is 262.2% larger than aid received Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($31,852 vs. $8,795)

BGSU vs. University of Dayton Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Dayton (1187) is 175 points higher than at BGSU (1012)
  • Incoming University of Dayton students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at BGSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman University of Dayton students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at BGSU (3.6)
  • BGSU has a higher acceptance rate (80.6%) than University of Dayton (61.6%)

BGSU vs. University of Dayton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, BGSU or University of Dayton? 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 University of Dayton and BGSU.

  • The graduation rate at University of Dayton is higher than Bowling Green State University Main Campus (74% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from University of Dayton earn on average $13,700 more per year than BGSU graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $43,600)
  • University of Dayton and BGSU graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($26,000 vs. $26,000)
  • University of Dayton and BGSU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($268 vs. $268)
  • More University of Dayton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BGSU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 53%)

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