Indiana State vs. BGSU

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

 Indiana State BGSU
Location Terre Haute, IN Bowling Green, OH
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 8,658 16,920
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #728
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website indstate.edu bgsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Indiana State BGSU
Tuition (In State) $9,452 $11,272
Tuition (Out of State) $20,880 $19,845
Room & Board $11,350 $12,584
Avg Net Price $12,688 $20,485
Avg Grant Aid $10,802 $8,898
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 95%

Admission

 Indiana State BGSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 18,531 17,447
Admitted 17,105 13,723
Acceptance Rate 92.3% 78.7%
Enrolled % 9% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/25
SAT Range 990/1200
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

 Indiana State BGSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

 Indiana State BGSU
Graduation Rate 42% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,400 $43,600
Making Student Loan Payments 51% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,720 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $245 $268

Diversity

 Indiana State BGSU
% Men 42% 42%
% Women 58% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 66% 78%
% Black 19% 10%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 6% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 Indiana State BGSU
% In-State 81% 88%
% Out-of-State 18% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than than Indiana State based on total student enrollment (16,920 students vs. 8,658 students)

Indiana State vs. BGSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Indiana State or BGSU?

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is 19.3% more expensive to attend than Indiana State for in-state tuition ($11,272.00 vs. $9,452.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.2% higher at Indiana State than Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($20,880.00 vs. $19,845.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana State University than BGSU ($12,688 vs. $20,485)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana State University are 10.9% lower than costs at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($11,350 vs. $12,584)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Indiana State University than Bowling Green State University Main Campus (96% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana State University students is 21.4% larger than aid received Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($10,802 vs. $8,898)

Indiana State vs. BGSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bowling Green State University Main Campus (1012) is 102 points higher than at Indiana State (910)
  • Incoming BGSU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Indiana State (19)
  • Accepted freshman BGSU students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Indiana State (3.29)
  • Indiana State has a higher acceptance rate (92.3%) than BGSU (78.7%)

Indiana State vs. BGSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Indiana State 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 Indiana State.

  • The graduation rate at BGSU is higher than Indiana State University (58% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn on average $3,200 more per year than Indiana State graduates after ten years. ($43,600 vs. $40,400)
  • Indiana State University students graduate with a $2,280 lower median federal student loan debt than BGSU graduates. ($23,720 vs. $26,000)
  • Indiana State 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 Indiana State students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 51%)

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