University of West Alabama vs. Bowie State University

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

University of West Alabama Bowie State University
Location Livingston, AL Bowie, MD
Setting Remote Rural Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,860 6,275
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1007 #962
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uwa.edu bowiestate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of West Alabama Bowie State University
Tuition (In State) $9,100 $5,811
Tuition (Out of State) $18,200 $16,533
Room & Board $7,820 $12,468
Avg Net Price $13,786 $13,886
Avg Grant Aid $9,291 $9,463
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 76%

Admission

University of West Alabama Bowie State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,131 5,445
Admitted 2,156 4,712
Acceptance Rate 68.9% 86.5%
Enrolled % 14.4% 25.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.16 3.12
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/21
SAT Range 880/980 800/1048
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 10, 2025 May 15, 2025

Academics

University of West Alabama Bowie State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (27%)
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Business (14%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)

Outcomes

University of West Alabama Bowie State University
Graduation Rate 28% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,500 $50,500
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 29%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,489 $24,391
Median Loan Payment $273 $252

Diversity

University of West Alabama Bowie State University
% Men 25% 37%
% Women 75% 63%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 45% 3%
% Black 40% 86%
% Hispanic 2% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 6% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

University of West Alabama Bowie State University
% In-State 81% 78%
% Out-of-State 13% 19%

Campus

University of West Alabama Bowie State University
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

  • Bowie State University is larger than than University of West Alabama based on total student enrollment (6,275 students vs. 5,860 students)

University of West Alabama vs. Bowie State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of West Alabama or Bowie State University?

  • University of West Alabama is 56.6% more expensive to attend than Bowie State University for in-state tuition ($9,100.00 vs. $5,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.1% higher at University of West Alabama than Bowie State University ($18,200.00 vs. $16,533.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of West Alabama than Bowie State University ($13,786 vs. $13,886)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of West Alabama are 59.4% lower than costs at Bowie State University ($7,820 vs. $12,468)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of West Alabama than Bowie State University (89% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowie State University students is 1.9% larger than aid received University of West Alabama ($9,463 vs. $9,291)

University of West Alabama vs. Bowie State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of West Alabama 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 West Alabama .

  • The average SAT score at University of West Alabama (930) is 47 points higher than at Bowie State University (883)
  • Incoming University of West Alabama students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at Bowie State University (18)
  • Accepted freshman University of West Alabama students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.16) than students at Bowie State University (3.12)
  • Bowie State University has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than University of West Alabama (68.9%)

University of West Alabama vs. Bowie State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of West Alabama 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 West Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at Bowie State University is higher than University of West Alabama (41% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $12,000 more per year than University of West Alabama graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $38,500)
  • Bowie State University students graduate with a $2,098 lower median federal student loan debt than University of West Alabama graduates. ($24,391 vs. $26,489)
  • Bowie State University graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than University of West Alabama graduates. ($252 vs. $273)
  • More University of West Alabama graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 29%)

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