Columbus State vs. Bowie State University

Should I go to Columbus State University or Bowie State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbus State or Bowie State University 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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Columbus State University vs. Bowie State University comparison
Columbus State University Bowie State University College 3 College 4
Columbus State University Bowie State University
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Overview

Columbus State Bowie State University
Location Columbus, GA Bowie, MD
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 7,610 6,408
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #997 #943
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbusstate.edu bowiestate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbus State Bowie State University
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $5,993
Tuition (Out of State) $15,425 $16,883
Room & Board $11,262 $13,272
Avg Net Price $11,384 $16,117
Avg Grant Aid $8,299 $8,730
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 62%

Admission

Columbus State Bowie State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,550 6,245
Admitted 3,523 5,217
Acceptance Rate 99.2% 83.5%
Enrolled % 30.7% 19%
Avg High School GPA 3.07 3.12
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24
SAT Range 860/1100 796/1083
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 Jun 30, 2026 May 15, 2026

Academics

Columbus State Bowie State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)

Outcomes

Columbus State Bowie State University
Graduation Rate 31% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $50,500
Making Student Loan Payments 37% 29%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $24,391
Median Loan Payment $268 $252

Diversity

Columbus State Bowie State University
% Men 7% 5%
% Women 14% 12%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 51% 3%
% Black 37% 86%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Columbus State Bowie State University
% In-State 91% 78%
% Out-of-State 7% 19%

Campus

Columbus State Bowie State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbus State University is larger than than Bowie State University based on total student enrollment (7,610 students vs. 6,408 students)

Columbus State vs. Bowie State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or Bowie State University?

  • Bowie State University is 37.1% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($5,993.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.5% higher at Bowie State University than Columbus State University ($16,883.00 vs. $15,425.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than Bowie State University ($11,384 vs. $16,117)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus State University are 17.8% lower than costs at Bowie State University ($11,262 vs. $13,272)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbus State University than Bowie State University (98% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowie State University students is 5.2% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($8,730 vs. $8,299)

Columbus State vs. Bowie State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbus State University (961) is 78 points higher than at Bowie State University (883)
  • Incoming Columbus State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at Bowie State University (18)
  • Accepted freshman Bowie State University students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.12) than students at Columbus State (3.07)
  • Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than Bowie State University (83.5%)

Columbus State vs. Bowie State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbus State or Bowie State University? 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 Bowie State University and Columbus State.

  • The graduation rate at Bowie State University is higher than Columbus State University (41% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $13,100 more per year than Columbus State graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $37,400)
  • Bowie State University students graduate with a $1,609 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbus State graduates. ($24,391 vs. $26,000)
  • Bowie State University graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Columbus State graduates. ($252 vs. $268)
  • More Columbus State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 29%)

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