KY State vs. BGSU

Deciding between Kentucky State University and Bowling Green State University Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Kentucky State University
Bowling Green State University Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • KY State Frankfort, KY
  • BGSU Bowling Green, OH
  • Setting
  • KY State Distant Town
  • BGSU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • KY State 2,020
  • BGSU 17,594
  • Type
  • KY State Public 4 Year
  • BGSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • KY State #1015
  • BGSU #690
  • Religious Affiliation
  • KY State -
  • BGSU -
  • Status
  • KY State Non-profit
  • BGSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • KY State
  • BGSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • KY State $9,387
  • BGSU $14,460
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • KY State $13,658
  • BGSU $22,448
  • Room & Board
  • KY State $8,686
  • BGSU $14,508
  • Average Net Price
  • KY State $9,397
  • BGSU $24,283
  • Average Grant Aid
  • KY State $10,340
  • BGSU $9,310
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • KY State 94%
  • BGSU 96%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • KY State 1,453
  • BGSU 21,153
  • Admitted
  • KY State 1,396
  • BGSU 17,125
  • Acceptance Rate
  • KY State 96.1%
  • BGSU 81%
  • Enrolled
  • KY State 27%
  • BGSU 20.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • KY State 920
  • BGSU 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • KY State 17
  • BGSU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • KY State 2.72
  • BGSU 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • KY State B-
  • BGSU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • KY State Extremely Easy
  • BGSU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • KY State
  • BGSU
  • ACT Range
  • KY State 14/20
  • BGSU 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • KY State 820/1010
  • BGSU 1000/1210
  • Submit Test Scores
  • KY State Test optional
  • BGSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • KY State
  • BGSU Jul 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • KY State 10:1
  • BGSU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • KY State
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Health Professions (15%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • BGSU
    • Education (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • KY State 21%
  • BGSU 58%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • KY State $31,000
  • BGSU $43,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • KY State 24%
  • BGSU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • KY State $29,000
  • BGSU $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • KY State $299
  • BGSU $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • KY State 45%
  • BGSU 43%
  • % Women
  • KY State 55%
  • BGSU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • KY State Medium
  • BGSU Low
  • HBCU
  • KY State Yes
  • BGSU No
  • % White
  • KY State 27%
  • BGSU 78%
  • % Asian
  • KY State 1%
  • BGSU 1%
  • % Black
  • KY State 57%
  • BGSU 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • KY State 3%
  • BGSU 4%
  • % Native American
  • KY State 0%
  • BGSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • KY State 0%
  • BGSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • KY State 2%
  • BGSU 3%
  • % International
  • KY State 0%
  • BGSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • KY State 9%
  • BGSU 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • KY State 42%
  • BGSU 84%
  • % Out-of-State
  • KY State 55%
  • BGSU 13%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • KY State Yes
  • BGSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • KY State No
  • BGSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • KY State Yes
  • BGSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • KY State No
  • BGSU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • KY State No
  • BGSU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Kentucky State University in Frankfort, KY with Bowling Green State University Main Campus in Bowling Green, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than KY State based on total student enrollment (17,594 students vs. 2,020 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kentucky State University is located in Frankfort, KY (Distant Town setting); Bowling Green State University Main Campus is in Bowling Green, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • Kentucky State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kentucky State University 10:1; Bowling Green State University Main Campus 17:1.

KY State vs. BGSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KY State or BGSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kentucky State University than BGSU ($9,397 vs. $24,283).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kentucky State University are 40.1% lower than at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($8,686 vs. $14,508).
  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is 54% more expensive for in-state tuition than KY State (about $5,073 more per year; $14,460.00 vs. $9,387.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 64.4% higher at BGSU than at Kentucky State University (about $8,790 more per year; $22,448.00 vs. $13,658.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than at Kentucky State University (96% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kentucky State University students is 11.1% larger than aid received by Bowling Green State University Main Campus students ($10,340 vs. $9,310).

KY State vs. BGSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, KY State or BGSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between BGSU and KY State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bowling Green State University Main Campus (1110) is 190 points higher than at KY State (920).
  • Incoming BGSU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 17 at KY State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kentucky State University 820/1010; Bowling Green State University Main Campus 1000/1210.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kentucky State University 14/20; Bowling Green State University Main Campus 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: KY State - Test optional; BGSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BGSU Jul 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BGSU students have a 0.88 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at KY State (2.72).
  • KY State has a higher acceptance rate (96.1%) than BGSU (81%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27% at KY State vs. 20.6% at BGSU.

KY State vs. BGSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for KY State and BGSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Kentucky State University's (21%).
  • Graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of about $12,600 more per year than KY State graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,600 vs. $31,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than KY State graduates ($26,000 vs. $29,000).
  • Among borrowers, BGSU graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than KY State graduates ($268 vs. $299).
  • More BGSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KY State students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 24%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.