WMU vs. BGSU

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

 WMU BGSU
Location Kalamazoo, MI Bowling Green, OH
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 17,000 16,920
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #634 #728
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wmich.edu bgsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WMU BGSU
Tuition (In State) $14,523 $11,272
Tuition (Out of State) $18,154 $19,845
Room & Board $11,102 $12,584
Avg Net Price $20,030 $20,485
Avg Grant Aid $6,813 $8,898
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 95%

Admission

 WMU BGSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,501 17,447
Admitted 17,334 13,723
Acceptance Rate 84.6% 78.7%
Enrolled % 15.1% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/27 20/25
SAT Range 990/1220 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

 WMU BGSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

 WMU BGSU
Graduation Rate 56% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,900 $43,600
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,633 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $275 $268

Diversity

 WMU BGSU
% Men 47% 42%
% Women 53% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 78%
% Black 12% 10%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 WMU BGSU
% In-State 79% 88%
% Out-of-State 19% 11%

Campus

 WMU 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

  • Western Michigan University is larger than than BGSU based on total student enrollment (17,000 students vs. 16,920 students)

WMU vs. BGSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WMU or BGSU?

  • Western Michigan University is 28.8% more expensive to attend than BGSU for in-state tuition ($14,523.00 vs. $11,272.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.3% higher at BGSU than Western Michigan University ($19,845.00 vs. $18,154.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Michigan University than BGSU ($20,030 vs. $20,485)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 13.3% lower than costs at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($11,102 vs. $12,584)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than Western Michigan University (95% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowling Green State University Main Campus students is 30.6% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($8,898 vs. $6,813)

WMU vs. BGSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Michigan University (1030) is 18 points higher than at BGSU (1012)
  • Incoming WMU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at BGSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman BGSU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at WMU (3.5)
  • WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than BGSU (78.7%)

WMU vs. BGSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WMU 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 WMU.

  • The graduation rate at BGSU is higher than Western Michigan University (58% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Western Michigan University earn on average $5,300 more per year than BGSU graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $43,600)
  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus students graduate with a $633 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($26,000 vs. $26,633)
  • BGSU graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($268 vs. $275)
  • More WMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BGSU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 53%)

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