Eastern vs. BGSU

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

 Eastern BGSU
Location Richmond, KY Bowling Green, OH
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 14,324 16,920
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #854 #728
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eku.edu bgsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Eastern BGSU
Tuition (In State) $9,544 $11,272
Tuition (Out of State) $19,922 $19,845
Room & Board $10,360 $12,584
Avg Net Price $10,806 $20,485
Avg Grant Aid $10,583 $8,898
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 95%

Admission

 Eastern BGSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,821 17,447
Admitted 10,174 13,723
Acceptance Rate 64.3% 78.7%
Enrolled % 26.9% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/24 20/25
SAT Range 940/1185 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 Aug 1, 2025 Jul 15, 2025

Academics

 Eastern BGSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

 Eastern BGSU
Graduation Rate 38% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,900 $43,600
Making Student Loan Payments 49% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,695 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $245 $268

Diversity

 Eastern BGSU
% Men 39% 42%
% Women 61% 58%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 85% 78%
% Black 6% 10%
% Hispanic 2% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 Eastern BGSU
% In-State 91% 88%
% Out-of-State 9% 11%

Campus

 Eastern BGSU
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

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than than Eastern based on total student enrollment (16,920 students vs. 14,324 students)

Eastern vs. BGSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Eastern or BGSU?

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is 18.1% more expensive to attend than Eastern for in-state tuition ($11,272.00 vs. $9,544.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.4% higher at Eastern than Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($19,922.00 vs. $19,845.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Kentucky University than BGSU ($10,806 vs. $20,485)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Kentucky University are 21.5% lower than costs at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($10,360 vs. $12,584)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Kentucky University than Bowling Green State University Main Campus (98% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Kentucky University students is 18.9% larger than aid received Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($10,583 vs. $8,898)

Eastern vs. BGSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Eastern Kentucky University (1028) is 16 points higher than at BGSU (1012)
  • Incoming Eastern 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 Eastern (3.39)
  • BGSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.7%) than Eastern (64.3%)

Eastern vs. BGSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Eastern 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 Eastern.

  • The graduation rate at BGSU is higher than Eastern Kentucky University (58% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn on average $5,700 more per year than Eastern graduates after ten years. ($43,600 vs. $37,900)
  • Eastern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,305 lower median federal student loan debt than BGSU graduates. ($23,695 vs. $26,000)
  • Eastern graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than BGSU graduates. ($245 vs. $268)
  • More BGSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Eastern students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 49%)

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