BGSU vs. WVSU

Deciding between Bowling Green State University Main Campus and West Virginia State University? 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
West Virginia State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BGSU Bowling Green, OH
  • WVSU Institute, WV
  • Setting
  • BGSU Distant Town
  • WVSU Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BGSU 17,594
  • WVSU 3,246
  • Type
  • BGSU Public 4 Year
  • WVSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BGSU #690
  • WVSU #1010
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BGSU -
  • WVSU -
  • Status
  • BGSU Non-profit
  • WVSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BGSU
  • WVSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BGSU $14,460
  • WVSU $9,570
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BGSU $22,448
  • WVSU $14,990
  • Room & Board
  • BGSU $14,508
  • WVSU $13,522
  • Average Net Price
  • BGSU $24,283
  • WVSU $11,055
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BGSU $9,310
  • WVSU $8,993
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BGSU 96%
  • WVSU 88%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BGSU 21,153
  • WVSU 6,163
  • Admitted
  • BGSU 17,125
  • WVSU 5,914
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BGSU 81%
  • WVSU 96%
  • Enrolled
  • BGSU 20.6%
  • WVSU 5.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BGSU 1110
  • WVSU 900
  • Typical ACT score
  • BGSU 22
  • WVSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • BGSU 3.6
  • WVSU 3.24
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BGSU A-
  • WVSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • BGSU Moderate
  • WVSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • BGSU
  • WVSU
  • ACT Range
  • BGSU 19/26
  • WVSU 15/20
  • SAT Range
  • BGSU 1000/1210
  • WVSU 760/1040
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BGSU Test optional
  • WVSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BGSU Jul 15, 2027
  • WVSU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BGSU 17:1
  • WVSU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BGSU
    • Education (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • WVSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Outcomes

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

  • % Men
  • BGSU 43%
  • WVSU 42%
  • % Women
  • BGSU 57%
  • WVSU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BGSU Low
  • WVSU Medium
  • HBCU
  • BGSU No
  • WVSU Yes
  • % White
  • BGSU 78%
  • WVSU 65%
  • % Asian
  • BGSU 1%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Black
  • BGSU 10%
  • WVSU 14%
  • % Hispanic
  • BGSU 4%
  • WVSU 1%
  • % Native American
  • BGSU 0%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BGSU 0%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BGSU 3%
  • WVSU 10%
  • % International
  • BGSU 2%
  • WVSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BGSU 2%
  • WVSU 9%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BGSU 84%
  • WVSU 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BGSU 13%
  • WVSU 32%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than WVSU based on total student enrollment (17,594 students vs. 3,246 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is located in Bowling Green, OH (Distant Town setting); West Virginia State University is in Institute, WV (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 17:1; West Virginia State University 13:1.

BGSU vs. WVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BGSU or WVSU? 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 West Virginia State University than BGSU ($11,055 vs. $24,283).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Virginia State University are 6.8% lower than at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($13,522 vs. $14,508).
  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is 51.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than WVSU (about $4,890 more per year; $14,460.00 vs. $9,570.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 49.8% higher at BGSU than at West Virginia State University (about $7,458 more per year; $22,448.00 vs. $14,990.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than at West Virginia State University (96% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowling Green State University Main Campus students is 3.5% larger than aid received by West Virginia State University students ($9,310 vs. $8,993).

BGSU vs. WVSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bowling Green State University Main Campus (1110) is 210 points higher than at WVSU (900).
  • Incoming BGSU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 17 at WVSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 1000/1210; West Virginia State University 760/1040.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 19/26; West Virginia State University 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BGSU - Test optional; WVSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BGSU Jul 15, 2027.
  • 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%) than BGSU (81%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.6% at BGSU vs. 5.5% at WVSU.

BGSU vs. WVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BGSU and WVSU? 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).

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than West Virginia State University's (25%).
  • Graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of about $10,900 more per year than WVSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,600 vs. $32,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, West Virginia State University graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than BGSU graduates ($23,250 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, WVSU graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.