BGSU vs. University of Dayton

Deciding between Bowling Green State University Main Campus and University of Dayton? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Bowling Green State University Main Campus
University of Dayton

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BGSU Bowling Green, OH
  • University of Dayton Dayton, OH
  • Setting
  • BGSU Distant Town
  • University of Dayton Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • BGSU 17,594
  • University of Dayton 10,506
  • Type
  • BGSU Public 4 Year
  • University of Dayton Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BGSU #690
  • University of Dayton #204
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BGSU -
  • University of Dayton Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • BGSU Non-profit
  • University of Dayton Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BGSU
  • University of Dayton
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BGSU $14,460
  • University of Dayton $49,140
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BGSU $22,448
  • University of Dayton $49,140
  • Room & Board
  • BGSU $14,508
  • University of Dayton $16,800
  • Average Net Price
  • BGSU $24,283
  • University of Dayton $32,794
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BGSU $9,310
  • University of Dayton $33,418
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BGSU 96%
  • University of Dayton 95%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BGSU 21,153
  • University of Dayton 21,981
  • Admitted
  • BGSU 17,125
  • University of Dayton 14,386
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BGSU 81%
  • University of Dayton 65.4%
  • Enrolled
  • BGSU 20.6%
  • University of Dayton 11.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BGSU 1110
  • University of Dayton 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • BGSU 22
  • University of Dayton 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • BGSU 3.6
  • University of Dayton 3.77
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BGSU A-
  • University of Dayton A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BGSU Moderate
  • University of Dayton Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BGSU
  • University of Dayton Low
  • ACT Range
  • BGSU 19/26
  • University of Dayton 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • BGSU 1000/1210
  • University of Dayton 1200/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BGSU Test optional
  • University of Dayton Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BGSU Jul 15, 2027
  • University of Dayton Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

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

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

  • % Men
  • BGSU 43%
  • University of Dayton 52%
  • % Women
  • BGSU 57%
  • University of Dayton 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BGSU Low
  • University of Dayton Low
  • HBCU
  • BGSU No
  • University of Dayton No
  • % White
  • BGSU 78%
  • University of Dayton 78%
  • % Asian
  • BGSU 1%
  • University of Dayton 1%
  • % Black
  • BGSU 10%
  • University of Dayton 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • BGSU 4%
  • University of Dayton 3%
  • % Native American
  • BGSU 0%
  • University of Dayton 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BGSU 0%
  • University of Dayton 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BGSU 3%
  • University of Dayton 2%
  • % International
  • BGSU 2%
  • University of Dayton 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BGSU 2%
  • University of Dayton 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BGSU 84%
  • University of Dayton 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BGSU 13%
  • University of Dayton 41%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowling Green State University Main Campus in Bowling Green, OH with University of Dayton in Dayton, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than University of Dayton based on total student enrollment (17,594 students vs. 10,506 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is located in Bowling Green, OH (Distant Town setting); University of Dayton is in Dayton, OH (Midsize City setting).
  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Dayton is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 17:1; University of Dayton 14:1.

BGSU vs. University of Dayton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BGSU or University of Dayton? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • 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 ($24,283 vs. $32,794).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowling Green State University Main Campus are 13.6% lower than at University of Dayton ($14,508 vs. $16,800).
  • University of Dayton is 239.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than BGSU (about $34,680 more per year; $49,140.00 vs. $14,460.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 118.9% higher at University of Dayton than at Bowling Green State University Main Campus (about $26,692 more per year; $49,140.00 vs. $22,448.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than at University of Dayton (96% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Dayton students is 258.9% larger than aid received by Bowling Green State University Main Campus students ($33,418 vs. $9,310).

BGSU vs. University of Dayton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BGSU or University of Dayton? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between University of Dayton and BGSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Dayton (1290) is 180 points higher than at BGSU (1110).
  • Incoming University of Dayton students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 22 at BGSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 1000/1210; University of Dayton 1200/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 19/26; University of Dayton 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BGSU - Test optional; University of Dayton - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BGSU Jul 15, 2027; University of Dayton Feb 1, 2027.
  • 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 (81%) than University of Dayton (65.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.6% at BGSU vs. 11.7% at University of Dayton.

BGSU vs. University of Dayton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BGSU and University of Dayton? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Dayton's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Bowling Green State University Main Campus's (58%).
  • Graduates from University of Dayton earn a median of about $13,700 more per year than BGSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,300 vs. $43,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Dayton and BGSU graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, University of Dayton and BGSU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.