BGSU vs. UTC

Deciding between Bowling Green State University Main Campus and The University of Tennessee Chattanooga? 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
The University of Tennessee Chattanooga

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BGSU Bowling Green, OH
  • UTC Chattanooga, TN
  • Setting
  • BGSU Distant Town
  • UTC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • BGSU 17,594
  • UTC 11,775
  • Type
  • BGSU Public 4 Year
  • UTC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BGSU #690
  • UTC #791
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BGSU -
  • UTC -
  • Status
  • BGSU Non-profit
  • UTC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BGSU
  • UTC
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BGSU $14,460
  • UTC $10,448
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BGSU $22,448
  • UTC $18,512
  • Room & Board
  • BGSU $14,508
  • UTC $12,604
  • Average Net Price
  • BGSU $24,283
  • UTC $15,347
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BGSU $9,310
  • UTC $10,038
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BGSU 96%
  • UTC 92%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BGSU 21,153
  • UTC 10,494
  • Admitted
  • BGSU 17,125
  • UTC 8,510
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BGSU 81%
  • UTC 81.1%
  • Enrolled
  • BGSU 20.6%
  • UTC 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BGSU 1110
  • UTC 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • BGSU 22
  • UTC 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • BGSU 3.6
  • UTC 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BGSU B+
  • UTC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • BGSU Moderate
  • UTC Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • BGSU
  • UTC
  • ACT Range
  • BGSU 19/26
  • UTC 20/26
  • SAT Range
  • BGSU 1000/1210
  • UTC 1013/1210
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BGSU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • UTC Required to be considered for admission
  • Application Deadline
  • BGSU Jul 15, 2027
  • UTC May 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BGSU 17:1
  • UTC 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BGSU
    • Education (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • UTC
    • Business (22%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BGSU 58%
  • UTC 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BGSU $43,600
  • UTC $40,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BGSU 53%
  • UTC 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BGSU $26,000
  • UTC $20,792
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BGSU $268
  • UTC $214
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BGSU 43%
  • UTC 37%
  • % Women
  • BGSU 57%
  • UTC 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BGSU Low
  • UTC Low
  • HBCU
  • BGSU No
  • UTC No
  • % White
  • BGSU 78%
  • UTC 75%
  • % Asian
  • BGSU 1%
  • UTC 2%
  • % Black
  • BGSU 10%
  • UTC 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • BGSU 4%
  • UTC 3%
  • % Native American
  • BGSU 0%
  • UTC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BGSU 0%
  • UTC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BGSU 3%
  • UTC 7%
  • % International
  • BGSU 2%
  • UTC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BGSU 2%
  • UTC 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BGSU 84%
  • UTC 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BGSU 13%
  • UTC 10%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowling Green State University Main Campus in Bowling Green, OH with The University of Tennessee Chattanooga in Chattanooga, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than UTC based on total student enrollment (17,594 students vs. 11,775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BGSU vs. UTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BGSU or UTC? 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 The University of Tennessee Chattanooga than BGSU ($15,347 vs. $24,283).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga are 13.1% lower than at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($12,604 vs. $14,508).
  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is 38.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UTC (about $4,012 more per year; $14,460.00 vs. $10,448.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.3% higher at BGSU than at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga (about $3,936 more per year; $22,448.00 vs. $18,512.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga (96% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Tennessee Chattanooga students is 7.8% larger than aid received by Bowling Green State University Main Campus students ($10,038 vs. $9,310).

BGSU vs. UTC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bowling Green State University Main Campus (1110) is the same as at UTC (1110).
  • Incoming UTC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 22 at BGSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 1000/1210; The University of Tennessee Chattanooga 1013/1210.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 19/26; The University of Tennessee Chattanooga 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BGSU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); UTC - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BGSU Jul 15, 2027; UTC May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UTC students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at BGSU (3.6).
  • UTC has a higher acceptance rate (81.1%) than BGSU (81%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.6% at BGSU vs. 29.2% at UTC.

BGSU vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BGSU and UTC? 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).

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than The University of Tennessee Chattanooga's (39%).
  • Graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than UTC graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,600 vs. $40,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Chattanooga graduates have a $5,208 lower median loan debt than BGSU graduates ($20,792 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, UTC graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BGSU graduates ($214 vs. $268).
  • More UTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BGSU students, three years after graduation. (56% 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.