EIU vs. BGSU

Should I go to Eastern Illinois University or Bowling Green State University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if EIU or BGSU 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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Eastern Illinois University vs. Bowling Green State University Main Campus comparison
Eastern Illinois University Bowling Green State University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Eastern Illinois University Bowling Green State University Main Campus
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Overview

 EIU BGSU
Location Charleston, IL Bowling Green, OH
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 8,857 16,920
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #672 #728
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eiu.edu bgsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 EIU BGSU
Tuition (In State) $9,709 $11,272
Tuition (Out of State) $12,136 $19,845
Room & Board $10,812 $12,584
Avg Net Price $13,380 $20,485
Avg Grant Aid $11,773 $8,898
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 95%

Admission

 EIU BGSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,584 17,447
Admitted 7,873 13,723
Acceptance Rate 68% 78.7%
Enrolled % 11.1% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/25
SAT Range 900/1120 990/1200
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

 EIU BGSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

 EIU BGSU
Graduation Rate 59% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,500 $43,600
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,650 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $244 $268

Diversity

 EIU BGSU
% Men 42% 42%
% Women 58% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 78%
% Black 19% 10%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

 EIU BGSU
% In-State 91% 88%
% Out-of-State 7% 11%

Campus

 EIU BGSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than than EIU based on total student enrollment (16,920 students vs. 8,857 students)

EIU vs. BGSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or BGSU?

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is 16.1% more expensive to attend than EIU for in-state tuition ($11,272.00 vs. $9,709.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 63.5% higher at BGSU than Eastern Illinois University ($19,845.00 vs. $12,136.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Illinois University than BGSU ($13,380 vs. $20,485)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Illinois University are 16.4% lower than costs at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($10,812 vs. $12,584)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than Bowling Green State University Main Campus (100% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 32.3% larger than aid received Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($11,773 vs. $8,898)

EIU vs. BGSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bowling Green State University Main Campus (1012) is 2 points higher than at EIU (1010)
  • Incoming EIU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at BGSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman BGSU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at EIU (3.39)
  • BGSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.7%) than EIU (68%)

EIU vs. BGSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at EIU is higher than Bowling Green State University Main Campus (59% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn on average $100 more per year than EIU graduates after ten years. ($43,600 vs. $43,500)
  • Eastern Illinois University students graduate with a $2,350 lower median federal student loan debt than BGSU graduates. ($23,650 vs. $26,000)
  • EIU graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than BGSU graduates. ($244 vs. $268)
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BGSU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 53%)

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