BGSU vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowling Green State University Main Campus in Bowling Green, OH with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (17,594 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowling Green State University Main Campus is located in Bowling Green, OH (Distant Town setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 17:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

BGSU vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BGSU or VMI? 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 Virginia Military Institute than BGSU ($18,825 vs. $24,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 22% lower than at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($11,310 vs. $14,508).
• Virginia Military Institute is 45.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than BGSU (about $6,586 more per year; $21,046.00 vs. $14,460.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 134.5% higher at VMI than at Bowling Green State University Main Campus (about $30,190 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $22,448.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than at Virginia Military Institute (96% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 155.9% larger than aid received by Bowling Green State University Main Campus students ($23,821 vs. $9,310).

BGSU vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BGSU or VMI? 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 VMI and BGSU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Military Institute (1160) is 50 points higher than at BGSU (1110).
• Incoming VMI students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 22 at BGSU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 1000/1210; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 19/26; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BGSU - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: BGSU Jul 15, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at BGSU (3.6).
• BGSU has a higher acceptance rate (81%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.6% at BGSU vs. 31.7% at VMI.

BGSU vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BGSU and VMI? 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).

• Virginia Military Institute's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Bowling Green State University Main Campus's (58%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $18,500 more per year than BGSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $43,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Military Institute graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than BGSU graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, VMI graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BGSU graduates ($258 vs. $268).
• More VMI 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.