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 16,693 17,027
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #631 #687
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wmich.edu bgsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WMU BGSU
Tuition (In State) $15,198 $11,611
Tuition (Out of State) $18,998 $19,600
Room & Board $11,713 $11,784
Avg Net Price $20,183 $20,987
Avg Grant Aid $8,217 $8,795
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 94%

Admission

 WMU BGSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,100 18,629
Admitted 17,020 15,016
Acceptance Rate 84.7% 80.6%
Enrolled % 14.5% 20.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 20/26
SAT Range 990/1220 1020/1230
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 8% 7%
% Women 14% 11%
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 78% 87%
% Out-of-State 21% 12%

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

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than than WMU based on total student enrollment (17,027 students vs. 16,693 students)

WMU vs. BGSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WMU or BGSU?

  • Western Michigan University is 30.9% more expensive to attend than BGSU for in-state tuition ($15,198.00 vs. $11,611.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.2% higher at BGSU than Western Michigan University ($19,600.00 vs. $18,998.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Michigan University than BGSU ($20,183 vs. $20,987)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 0.6% lower than costs at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($11,713 vs. $11,784)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than Western Michigan University (94% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowling Green State University Main Campus students is 7% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($8,795 vs. $8,217)

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 (84.7%) than BGSU (80.6%)

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/