Elmhurst College vs. BGSU

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

Elmhurst College BGSU
Location Elmhurst, IL Bowling Green, OH
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 3,731 16,920
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #380 #728
Religious Affiliation United Church of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website elmhurst.edu bgsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Elmhurst College BGSU
Tuition (In State) $39,862 $11,272
Tuition (Out of State) $39,862 $19,845
Room & Board $11,250 $12,584
Avg Net Price $24,108 $20,485
Avg Grant Aid $27,835 $8,898
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 95%

Admission

Elmhurst College BGSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,731 17,447
Admitted 4,356 13,723
Acceptance Rate 76% 78.7%
Enrolled % 14.2% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 20/25
SAT Range 980/1240 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

Elmhurst College BGSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

Elmhurst College BGSU
Graduation Rate 70% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,200 $43,600
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $268

Diversity

Elmhurst College BGSU
% Men 38% 42%
% Women 62% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 78%
% Black 5% 10%
% Hispanic 17% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Elmhurst College BGSU
% In-State 78% 88%
% Out-of-State 13% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than than Elmhurst College based on total student enrollment (16,920 students vs. 3,731 students)

Elmhurst College vs. BGSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elmhurst College or BGSU?

  • Elmhurst College is 253.6% more expensive to attend than BGSU for in-state tuition ($39,862.00 vs. $11,272.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 100.9% higher at Elmhurst College than Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($39,862.00 vs. $19,845.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than Elmhurst College ($20,485 vs. $24,108)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elmhurst College are 11.9% lower than costs at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($11,250 vs. $12,584)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Elmhurst College than Bowling Green State University Main Campus (99% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elmhurst College students is 212.8% larger than aid received Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($27,835 vs. $8,898)

Elmhurst College vs. BGSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Elmhurst College (1090) is 78 points higher than at BGSU (1012)
  • Incoming Elmhurst College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at BGSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman BGSU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Elmhurst College (3.59)
  • BGSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.7%) than Elmhurst College (76%)

Elmhurst College vs. BGSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Elmhurst College 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 Elmhurst College.

  • The graduation rate at Elmhurst College is higher than Bowling Green State University Main Campus (70% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Elmhurst College earn on average $6,600 more per year than BGSU graduates after ten years. ($50,200 vs. $43,600)
  • Elmhurst College students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than BGSU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Elmhurst College graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than BGSU graduates. ($222 vs. $268)
  • More Elmhurst College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BGSU students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 53%)

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