BGSU vs. Ship

Deciding between Bowling Green State University Main Campus and Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania? 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
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BGSU Bowling Green, OH
  • Ship Shippensburg, PA
  • Setting
  • BGSU Distant Town
  • Ship Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • BGSU 17,594
  • Ship 5,161
  • Type
  • BGSU Public 4 Year
  • Ship Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BGSU #690
  • Ship #700
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BGSU -
  • Ship -
  • Status
  • BGSU Non-profit
  • Ship Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BGSU
  • Ship
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BGSU $14,460
  • Ship $13,720
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BGSU $22,448
  • Ship $15,974
  • Room & Board
  • BGSU $14,508
  • Ship $13,340
  • Average Net Price
  • BGSU $24,283
  • Ship $23,772
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BGSU $9,310
  • Ship $6,756
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BGSU 96%
  • Ship 90%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BGSU 21,153
  • Ship 7,224
  • Admitted
  • BGSU 17,125
  • Ship 6,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BGSU 81%
  • Ship 86.5%
  • Enrolled
  • BGSU 20.6%
  • Ship 17.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BGSU 1110
  • Ship 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • BGSU 22
  • Ship
  • Average High School GPA
  • BGSU 3.6
  • Ship 3.23
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BGSU B+
  • Ship B
  • Admissions Standards
  • BGSU Moderate
  • Ship Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • BGSU
  • Ship
  • ACT Range
  • BGSU 19/26
  • Ship
  • SAT Range
  • BGSU 1000/1210
  • Ship 990/1210
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BGSU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Ship Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • BGSU Jul 15, 2027
  • Ship
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BGSU 17:1
  • Ship 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BGSU
    • Education (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Ship
    • Business (26%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BGSU 58%
  • Ship 60%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BGSU $43,600
  • Ship $47,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BGSU 53%
  • Ship 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BGSU $26,000
  • Ship $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BGSU $268
  • Ship $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BGSU 43%
  • Ship 31%
  • % Women
  • BGSU 57%
  • Ship 69%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BGSU Low
  • Ship Low
  • HBCU
  • BGSU No
  • Ship No
  • % White
  • BGSU 78%
  • Ship 78%
  • % Asian
  • BGSU 1%
  • Ship 1%
  • % Black
  • BGSU 10%
  • Ship 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • BGSU 4%
  • Ship 5%
  • % Native American
  • BGSU 0%
  • Ship 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BGSU 0%
  • Ship 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BGSU 3%
  • Ship 3%
  • % International
  • BGSU 2%
  • Ship 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BGSU 2%
  • Ship 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BGSU 84%
  • Ship 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BGSU 13%
  • Ship 10%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowling Green State University Main Campus in Bowling Green, OH with Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in Shippensburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than Ship based on total student enrollment (17,594 students vs. 5,161 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is located in Bowling Green, OH (Distant Town setting); Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is in Shippensburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 17:1; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 18:1.

BGSU vs. Ship Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BGSU or Ship? 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 Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania than BGSU ($23,772 vs. $24,283).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania are 8.1% lower than at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($13,340 vs. $14,508).
  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is 5.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ship (about $740 more per year; $14,460.00 vs. $13,720.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.5% higher at BGSU than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (about $6,474 more per year; $22,448.00 vs. $15,974.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (96% vs. 90%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowling Green State University Main Campus students is 37.8% larger than aid received by Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania students ($9,310 vs. $6,756).

BGSU vs. Ship Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BGSU or Ship? 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 Ship and BGSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bowling Green State University Main Campus (1110) is 10 points higher than at Ship (1100).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 1000/1210; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 990/1210.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BGSU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Ship - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: BGSU Jul 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BGSU students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Ship (3.23).
  • Ship has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than BGSU (81%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.6% at BGSU vs. 17.5% at Ship.

BGSU vs. Ship Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BGSU and Ship? 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).

  • Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Bowling Green State University Main Campus's (58%).
  • Graduates from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than BGSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,200 vs. $43,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than BGSU graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Ship graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BGSU graduates ($258 vs. $268).
  • More Ship graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BGSU students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.