University of the District of Columbia vs. Bowie State University

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

 University of the District of Columbia Bowie State University
Location Washington, DC Bowie, MD
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,855 6,408
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #943
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website udc.edu bowiestate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 University of the District of Columbia Bowie State University
Tuition (In State) $5,292 $5,993
Tuition (Out of State) $12,144 $16,883
Room & Board $14,078 $13,272
Avg Net Price $14,287 $16,117
Avg Grant Aid $5,527 $8,730
% Receiving Grant Aid 69% 62%

Admission

 University of the District of Columbia Bowie State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 6,245
Admitted - 5,217
Acceptance Rate Open 83.5%
Enrolled % Open 19%
Avg High School GPA - 3.12
Typical High School Grades - B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range 796/1083
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026 May 15, 2026

Academics

 University of the District of Columbia Bowie State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)

Outcomes

 University of the District of Columbia Bowie State University
Graduation Rate 8% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $50,500
Making Student Loan Payments 28% 29%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $24,391
Median Loan Payment $227 $252

Diversity

 University of the District of Columbia Bowie State University
% Men 6% 5%
% Women 9% 12%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 4% 3%
% Black 62% 86%
% Hispanic 10% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 8% 1%
% Unknown Race 12% 2%

Students

 University of the District of Columbia Bowie State University
% In-State 77% 78%
% Out-of-State 18% 19%

Campus

 University of the District of Columbia Bowie State University
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

  • Bowie State University is larger than than University of the District of Columbia based on total student enrollment (6,408 students vs. 3,855 students)

University of the District of Columbia vs. Bowie State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of the District of Columbia or Bowie State University?

  • Bowie State University is 13.2% more expensive to attend than University of the District of Columbia for in-state tuition ($5,993.00 vs. $5,292.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 39% higher at Bowie State University than University of the District of Columbia ($16,883.00 vs. $12,144.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of the District of Columbia than Bowie State University ($14,287 vs. $16,117)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowie State University are 6.1% lower than costs at University of the District of Columbia ($13,272 vs. $14,078)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of the District of Columbia than Bowie State University (69% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowie State University students is 58% larger than aid received University of the District of Columbia ($8,730 vs. $5,527)

Which college is harder to get into, University of the District of Columbia 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 University of the District of Columbia .

University of the District of Columbia vs. Bowie State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of the District of Columbia 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 University of the District of Columbia.

  • The graduation rate at Bowie State University is higher than University of the District of Columbia (41% vs. 8%)
  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $13,400 more per year than University of the District of Columbia graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $37,100)
  • University of the District of Columbia students graduate with a $2,391 lower median federal student loan debt than Bowie State University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $24,391)
  • University of the District of Columbia graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than Bowie State University graduates. ($227 vs. $252)
  • More Bowie State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of the District of Columbia students, three years after graduation. (29% vs. 28%)

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