BGSU vs. Ohio State

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

 BGSU Ohio State
Location Bowling Green, OH Columbus, OH
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 16,920 60,540
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #728 #134
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bgsu.edu osu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 BGSU Ohio State
Tuition (In State) $11,272 $11,525
Tuition (Out of State) $19,845 $35,762
Room & Board $12,584 $14,006
Avg Net Price $20,485 $19,582
Avg Grant Aid $8,898 $10,993
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 74%

Admission

 BGSU Ohio State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,447 65,189
Admitted 13,723 34,370
Acceptance Rate 78.7% 52.7%
Enrolled % 21.4% 23.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.76
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Easy Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/25 29/32
SAT Range 990/1200 1310/1480
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, 2024 Feb 1, 2024

Academics

 BGSU Ohio State
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)

Outcomes

 BGSU Ohio State
Graduation Rate 58% 80%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,600 $50,600
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $222

Diversity

 BGSU Ohio State
% Men 42% 48%
% Women 58% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 71%
% Black 10% 6%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 7%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

 BGSU Ohio State
% In-State 88% 66%
% Out-of-State 11% 23%

Campus

 BGSU Ohio State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Ohio State University is larger than than BGSU based on total student enrollment (60,540 students vs. 16,920 students)

BGSU vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BGSU or Ohio State?

  • Ohio State University is 2.2% more expensive to attend than BGSU for in-state tuition ($11,525.00 vs. $11,272.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 80.2% higher at Ohio State than Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($35,762.00 vs. $19,845.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ohio State University than BGSU ($19,582 vs. $20,485)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowling Green State University Main Campus are 11.3% lower than costs at Ohio State University ($12,584 vs. $14,006)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than Ohio State University (95% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University students is 23.5% larger than aid received Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($10,993 vs. $8,898)

BGSU vs. Ohio State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Ohio State University (1295) is 283 points higher than at BGSU (1012)
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at BGSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at BGSU (3.6)
  • BGSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.7%) than Ohio State (52.7%)

BGSU vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, BGSU or Ohio State? 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 Ohio State and BGSU.

  • The graduation rate at Ohio State is higher than Bowling Green State University Main Campus (80% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Ohio State University earn on average $7,000 more per year than BGSU graduates after ten years. ($50,600 vs. $43,600)
  • Ohio State University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than BGSU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Ohio State graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than BGSU graduates. ($222 vs. $268)
  • More Ohio State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BGSU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 53%)

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