IU South Bend vs. BGSU

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

 IU South Bend BGSU
Location South Bend, IN Bowling Green, OH
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 4,326 16,920
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #917 #728
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iusb.edu bgsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 IU South Bend BGSU
Tuition (In State) $7,274 $11,272
Tuition (Out of State) $20,634 $19,845
Room & Board $9,190 $12,584
Avg Net Price $8,785 $20,485
Avg Grant Aid $7,821 $8,898
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 95%

Admission

 IU South Bend BGSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,348 17,447
Admitted 2,040 13,723
Acceptance Rate 86.9% 78.7%
Enrolled % 37.8% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.24 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/22 20/25
SAT Range 970/1190 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

 IU South Bend BGSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

 IU South Bend BGSU
Graduation Rate 22% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $43,600
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,530 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $253 $268

Diversity

 IU South Bend BGSU
% Men 33% 42%
% Women 67% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 78%
% Black 8% 10%
% Hispanic 9% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 IU South Bend BGSU
% In-State 95% 88%
% Out-of-State 4% 11%

Campus

 IU South Bend BGSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No 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 IU South Bend based on total student enrollment (16,920 students vs. 4,326 students)

IU South Bend vs. BGSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU South Bend or BGSU?

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is 55% more expensive to attend than IU South Bend for in-state tuition ($11,272.00 vs. $7,274.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4% higher at IU South Bend than Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($20,634.00 vs. $19,845.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University South Bend than BGSU ($8,785 vs. $20,485)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University South Bend are 36.9% lower than costs at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($9,190 vs. $12,584)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Indiana University South Bend as Bowling Green State University Main Campus (95% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowling Green State University Main Campus students is 13.8% larger than aid received Indiana University South Bend ($8,898 vs. $7,821)

IU South Bend vs. BGSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bowling Green State University Main Campus (1012) is 57 points higher than at IU South Bend (955)
  • Incoming BGSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at IU South Bend (21)
  • Accepted freshman BGSU students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at IU South Bend (3.24)
  • IU South Bend has a higher acceptance rate (86.9%) than BGSU (78.7%)

IU South Bend vs. BGSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IU South Bend 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 IU South Bend.

  • The graduation rate at BGSU is higher than Indiana University South Bend (58% vs. 22%)
  • Graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn on average $6,500 more per year than IU South Bend graduates after ten years. ($43,600 vs. $37,100)
  • Indiana University South Bend students graduate with a $1,470 lower median federal student loan debt than BGSU graduates. ($24,530 vs. $26,000)
  • IU South Bend graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than BGSU graduates. ($253 vs. $268)
  • More BGSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU South Bend students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 47%)

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