Bowie State University vs. University of Houston-Downtown

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowie State University in Bowie, MD with University of Houston Downtown in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Houston Downtown is larger than Bowie State University based on total student enrollment (13,730 students vs. 6,353 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowie State University is located in Bowie, MD (Large Suburban setting); University of Houston Downtown is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
• Bowie State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Houston Downtown is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowie State University 15:1; University of Houston Downtown 18:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Houston Downtown are 16.9% lower than at Bowie State University ($10,176 vs. $12,241).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.6% higher at Bowie State University than at University of Houston Downtown (about $2,390 more per year; $19,938 vs. $17,548).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Houston Downtown than at Bowie State University (84% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston Downtown students is 50.4% larger than aid received by Bowie State University students ($10,257 vs. $6,819).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Bowie State University, open admission at University of Houston-Downtown.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowie State University May 15, 2027; University of Houston-Downtown Jun 1, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at University of Houston-Downtown average a 3.29 high school GPA, 0.17 higher than at Bowie State University (3.12).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.3% at Bowie State University vs. 20% at University of Houston-Downtown.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Houston Downtown graduates have a $5,641 lower median loan debt than Bowie State University graduates ($18,750 vs. $24,391).
• Among borrowers, University of Houston-Downtown graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bowie State University graduates ($193 vs. $252).
• More University of Houston-Downtown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation (41% vs. 29%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.