BGSU vs. Carthage

Deciding between Bowling Green State University Main Campus and Carthage College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Carthage College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BGSU Bowling Green, OH
  • Carthage Kenosha, WI
  • Setting
  • BGSU Distant Town
  • Carthage Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BGSU 17,594
  • Carthage 2,844
  • Type
  • BGSU Public 4 Year
  • Carthage Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BGSU #690
  • Carthage #663
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BGSU -
  • Carthage Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • BGSU Non-profit
  • Carthage Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BGSU
  • Carthage
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BGSU $14,460
  • Carthage $38,750
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BGSU $22,448
  • Carthage $38,750
  • Room & Board
  • BGSU $14,508
  • Carthage $13,450
  • Average Net Price
  • BGSU $24,283
  • Carthage $27,066
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BGSU $9,310
  • Carthage $23,784
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BGSU 96%
  • Carthage 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BGSU 21,153
  • Carthage 7,777
  • Admitted
  • BGSU 17,125
  • Carthage 6,771
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BGSU 81%
  • Carthage 87.1%
  • Enrolled
  • BGSU 20.6%
  • Carthage 11.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BGSU 1110
  • Carthage 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • BGSU 22
  • Carthage 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • BGSU 3.6
  • Carthage 3.36
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BGSU B+
  • Carthage B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • BGSU Moderate
  • Carthage Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • BGSU
  • Carthage
  • ACT Range
  • BGSU 19/26
  • Carthage 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • BGSU 1000/1210
  • Carthage 1000/1205
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BGSU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Carthage Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • BGSU Jul 15, 2027
  • Carthage
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BGSU 17:1
  • Carthage 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BGSU
    • Education (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Carthage
    • Business (28%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BGSU 58%
  • Carthage 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BGSU $43,600
  • Carthage $48,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BGSU 53%
  • Carthage 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BGSU $26,000
  • Carthage $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BGSU $268
  • Carthage $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BGSU 40%
  • Carthage 49%
  • % Women
  • BGSU 60%
  • Carthage 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BGSU Low
  • Carthage Very Low
  • HBCU
  • BGSU No
  • Carthage No
  • % White
  • BGSU 78%
  • Carthage 75%
  • % Asian
  • BGSU 1%
  • Carthage 1%
  • % Black
  • BGSU 10%
  • Carthage 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • BGSU 4%
  • Carthage 4%
  • % Native American
  • BGSU 0%
  • Carthage 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BGSU 0%
  • Carthage 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BGSU 3%
  • Carthage 3%
  • % International
  • BGSU 2%
  • Carthage 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BGSU 2%
  • Carthage 11%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BGSU 84%
  • Carthage 36%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BGSU 13%
  • Carthage 63%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • BGSU Yes
  • Carthage Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • BGSU No
  • Carthage No
  • Meal Plan
  • BGSU Yes
  • Carthage Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • BGSU No
  • Carthage Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • BGSU No
  • Carthage No

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowling Green State University Main Campus in Bowling Green, OH with Carthage College in Kenosha, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than Carthage based on total student enrollment (17,594 students vs. 2,844 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is located in Bowling Green, OH (Distant Town setting); Carthage College is in Kenosha, WI (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Carthage College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 17:1; Carthage College 14:1.

BGSU vs. Carthage Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BGSU or Carthage? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than Carthage ($24,283 vs. $27,066).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carthage College are 7.3% lower than at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($13,450 vs. $14,508).
  • Carthage College is 168% more expensive for in-state tuition than BGSU (about $24,290 more per year; $38,750.00 vs. $14,460.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 72.6% higher at Carthage than at Bowling Green State University Main Campus (about $16,302 more per year; $38,750.00 vs. $22,448.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carthage College than at Bowling Green State University Main Campus (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carthage College students is 155.5% larger than aid received by Bowling Green State University Main Campus students ($23,784 vs. $9,310).

BGSU vs. Carthage Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BGSU or Carthage? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Carthage and BGSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bowling Green State University Main Campus (1110) is 10 points higher than at Carthage (1100).
  • Incoming BGSU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 22) as students at Carthage (22).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 1000/1210; Carthage College 1000/1205.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 19/26; Carthage College 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BGSU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Carthage - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: BGSU Jul 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BGSU students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Carthage (3.36).
  • Carthage has a higher acceptance rate (87.1%) than BGSU (81%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.6% at BGSU vs. 11.3% at Carthage.

BGSU vs. Carthage Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BGSU and Carthage? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Carthage College's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Bowling Green State University Main Campus's (58%).
  • Graduates from Carthage College earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than BGSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,800 vs. $43,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Carthage graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, BGSU graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carthage graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More Carthage graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BGSU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.