BGSU vs. WVSU

Should I go to Bowling Green State University Main Campus or West Virginia State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BGSU or WVSU 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 University of Toledo Cleveland State Ohio University WVU Fairmont State Ohio State Miami UC GVSU Marshall University University of Akron
Bowling Green State University Main Campus vs. West Virginia State University comparison
Bowling Green State University Main Campus West Virginia State University College 3 College 4
Bowling Green State University Main Campus West Virginia State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

BGSU WVSU
Location Bowling Green, OH Institute, WV
Setting Distant Town Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 16,920 3,785
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #728 #1009
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bgsu.edu wvstateu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

BGSU WVSU
Tuition (In State) $11,272 $8,122
Tuition (Out of State) $19,845 $13,810
Room & Board $12,584 $12,214
Avg Net Price $20,485 $11,684
Avg Grant Aid $8,898 $9,482
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 90%

Admission

BGSU WVSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,447 2,775
Admitted 13,723 2,669
Acceptance Rate 78.7% 96.2%
Enrolled % 21.4% 12.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.24
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/25 17/22
SAT Range 990/1200 840/1065
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 WVSU
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%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

BGSU WVSU
Graduation Rate 58% 25%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,600 $32,700
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 35%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $268 $240

Diversity

BGSU WVSU
% Men 42% 41%
% Women 58% 59%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No Yes
% White 78% 65%
% Black 10% 14%
% Hispanic 4% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 10%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 9%

Students

BGSU WVSU
% In-State 88% 81%
% Out-of-State 11% 17%

Campus

BGSU WVSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
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 WVSU based on total student enrollment (16,920 students vs. 3,785 students)

BGSU vs. WVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BGSU or WVSU?

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is 38.8% more expensive to attend than WVSU for in-state tuition ($11,272.00 vs. $8,122.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 43.7% higher at BGSU than West Virginia State University ($19,845.00 vs. $13,810.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Virginia State University than BGSU ($11,684 vs. $20,485)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Virginia State University are 3% lower than costs at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($12,214 vs. $12,584)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than West Virginia State University (95% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by West Virginia State University students is 6.6% larger than aid received Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($9,482 vs. $8,898)

BGSU vs. WVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bowling Green State University Main Campus (1012) is 85 points higher than at WVSU (927)
  • Incoming BGSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at WVSU (20)
  • Accepted freshman BGSU students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at WVSU (3.24)
  • WVSU has a higher acceptance rate (96.2%) than BGSU (78.7%)

BGSU vs. WVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at BGSU is higher than West Virginia State University (58% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn on average $10,900 more per year than WVSU graduates after ten years. ($43,600 vs. $32,700)
  • West Virginia State University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than BGSU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $26,000)
  • WVSU graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than BGSU graduates. ($240 vs. $268)
  • More BGSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVSU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 35%)

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