Bowie State University vs. Penn State Abington

Should I go to Bowie State University or Penn State Abington? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bowie State University or Penn State Abington 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Morgan State Penn State Brandywine Delaware State University Coppin UMES WCU TU Penn State Harrisburg Temple Penn State VSU NSU
Bowie State University vs. Penn State Abington comparison
Bowie State University Penn State Abington College 3 College 4
Bowie State University Penn State Abington
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Bowie State University Penn State Abington
Location Bowie, MD Abington, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,275 3,090
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #962 #694
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowiestate.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowie State University Penn State Abington
Tuition (In State) $5,811 $14,684
Tuition (Out of State) $16,533 $24,586
Room & Board $12,468 $10,694
Avg Net Price $13,886 $20,460
Avg Grant Aid $9,463 $9,589
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 79%

Admission

Bowie State University Penn State Abington
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,445 6,463
Admitted 4,712 6,037
Acceptance Rate 86.5% 93.4%
Enrolled % 25.2% 14.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 3.42
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/31
SAT Range 800/1048 1070/1310
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 May 15, 2024

Academics

Bowie State University Penn State Abington
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Psychology (21%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Bowie State University Penn State Abington
Graduation Rate 41% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,500 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,391 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $252 $277

Diversity

Bowie State University Penn State Abington
% Men 37% 59%
% Women 63% 41%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU Yes No
% White 3% 50%
% Black 86% 13%
% Hispanic 3% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

Bowie State University Penn State Abington
% In-State 78% 68%
% Out-of-State 19% 21%

Campus

Bowie State University Penn State Abington
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bowie State University is larger than than Penn State Abington based on total student enrollment (6,275 students vs. 3,090 students)

Bowie State University vs. Penn State Abington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowie State University or Penn State Abington?

  • Penn State Abington is 152.7% more expensive to attend than Bowie State University for in-state tuition ($14,684.00 vs. $5,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 48.7% higher at Penn State Abington than Bowie State University ($24,586.00 vs. $16,533.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowie State University than Penn State Abington ($13,886 vs. $20,460)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Abington are 16.6% lower than costs at Bowie State University ($10,694 vs. $12,468)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Penn State Abington than Bowie State University (79% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Abington students is 1.3% larger than aid received Bowie State University ($9,589 vs. $9,463)

Bowie State University vs. Penn State Abington Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bowie State University or Penn State Abington? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Abington or Bowie State University .

  • The average SAT score at Penn State Abington (975) is 92 points higher than at Bowie State University (883)
  • Incoming Penn State Abington students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Bowie State University (18)
  • Accepted freshman Penn State Abington students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Bowie State University (3.12)
  • Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (93.4%) than Bowie State University (86.5%)

Bowie State University vs. Penn State Abington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowie State University or Penn State Abington? 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 Penn State Abington and Bowie State University.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State Abington is higher than Bowie State University (44% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Abington earn on average $4,800 more per year than Bowie State University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $50,500)
  • Bowie State University students graduate with a $2,427 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Abington graduates. ($24,391 vs. $26,818)
  • Bowie State University graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Abington graduates. ($252 vs. $277)
  • More Penn State Abington graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 29%)

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