IUPUI vs. BGSU

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

 IUPUI BGSU
Location Indianapolis, IN Bowling Green, OH
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 25,979 16,920
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #482 #728
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iupui.edu bgsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 IUPUI BGSU
Tuition (In State) $8,972 $11,272
Tuition (Out of State) $31,410 $19,845
Room & Board $11,252 $12,584
Avg Net Price $11,462 $20,485
Avg Grant Aid $12,201 $8,898
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 95%

Admission

 IUPUI BGSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,637 17,447
Admitted 12,961 13,723
Acceptance Rate 82.9% 78.7%
Enrolled % 27.2% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 20/25
SAT Range 1050/1250 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 May 15, 2025 Jul 15, 2025

Academics

 IUPUI BGSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

 IUPUI BGSU
Graduation Rate 33% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,600 $43,600
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,090 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $238 $268

Diversity

 IUPUI BGSU
% Men 40% 42%
% Women 60% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 78%
% Black 10% 10%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

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

Campus

 IUPUI 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

  • Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is larger than than BGSU based on total student enrollment (25,979 students vs. 16,920 students)

IUPUI vs. BGSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IUPUI or BGSU?

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is 25.6% more expensive to attend than IUPUI for in-state tuition ($11,272.00 vs. $8,972.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 58.3% higher at IUPUI than Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($31,410.00 vs. $19,845.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis than BGSU ($11,462 vs. $20,485)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis are 11.8% lower than costs at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($11,252 vs. $12,584)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (95% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis students is 37.1% larger than aid received Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($12,201 vs. $8,898)

IUPUI vs. BGSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (1014) is 2 points higher than at BGSU (1012)
  • Incoming IUPUI students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at BGSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman BGSU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at IUPUI (3.52)
  • IUPUI has a higher acceptance rate (82.9%) than BGSU (78.7%)

IUPUI vs. BGSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IUPUI 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 IUPUI.

  • The graduation rate at BGSU is higher than Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (58% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn on average $5,000 more per year than BGSU graduates after ten years. ($48,600 vs. $43,600)
  • Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis students graduate with a $2,910 lower median federal student loan debt than BGSU graduates. ($23,090 vs. $26,000)
  • IUPUI graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than BGSU graduates. ($238 vs. $268)
  • More IUPUI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BGSU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 53%)

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