Indian River State College vs. Bowie State University

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

Indian River State College Bowie State University
Location Fort Pierce, FL Bowie, MD
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 14,862 6,275
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #962
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website irsc.edu bowiestate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Indian River State College Bowie State University
Tuition (In State) $2,496 $5,811
Tuition (Out of State) $9,360 $16,533
Room & Board $8,670 $12,468
Avg Net Price $5,019 $13,886
Avg Grant Aid $5,563 $9,463
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 76%

Admission

Indian River State College Bowie State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 5,445
Admitted - 4,712
Acceptance Rate Open 86.5%
Enrolled % Open 25.2%
Avg High School GPA - 3.12
Typical High School Grades - B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range 800/1048
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 2, 2025 May 15, 2025

Academics

Indian River State College Bowie State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 27:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (38%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Engineering Technology (4%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)

Outcomes

Indian River State College Bowie State University
Graduation Rate - 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $31,600 $50,500
Making Student Loan Payments 38% 29%
Median Student Loan Debt $6,709 $24,391
Median Loan Payment $69 $252

Diversity

Indian River State College Bowie State University
% Men 40% 37%
% Women 60% 63%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 55% 3%
% Black 17% 86%
% Hispanic 20% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Indian River State College Bowie State University
% In-State 99% 78%
% Out-of-State 1% 19%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Indian River State College is larger than than Bowie State University based on total student enrollment (14,862 students vs. 6,275 students)

Indian River State College vs. Bowie State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Indian River State College or Bowie State University?

  • Bowie State University is 132.8% more expensive to attend than Indian River State College for in-state tuition ($5,811.00 vs. $2,496.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 76.6% higher at Bowie State University than Indian River State College ($16,533.00 vs. $9,360.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indian River State College than Bowie State University ($5,019 vs. $13,886)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indian River State College are 43.8% lower than costs at Bowie State University ($8,670 vs. $12,468)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Indian River State College than Bowie State University (91% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowie State University students is 70.1% larger than aid received Indian River State College ($9,463 vs. $5,563)

Which college is harder to get into, Indian River State College 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 Indian River State College .

Indian River State College vs. Bowie State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Indian River State College 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 Indian River State College.

  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $18,900 more per year than Indian River State College graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $31,600)
  • Indian River State College students graduate with a $17,682 lower median federal student loan debt than Bowie State University graduates. ($6,709 vs. $24,391)
  • Indian River State College graduates are paying $183 less per month on federal student loans than Bowie State University graduates. ($69 vs. $252)
  • More Indian River State College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 29%)

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