BGSU vs. UC

Deciding between Bowling Green State University Main Campus and University of Cincinnati Main Campus? 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
University of Cincinnati Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BGSU Bowling Green, OH
  • UC Cincinnati, OH
  • Setting
  • BGSU Distant Town
  • UC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • BGSU 17,594
  • UC 45,026
  • Type
  • BGSU Public 4 Year
  • UC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BGSU #690
  • UC #429
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BGSU -
  • UC -
  • Status
  • BGSU Non-profit
  • UC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BGSU
  • UC
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BGSU $14,460
  • UC $13,976
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BGSU $22,448
  • UC $29,310
  • Room & Board
  • BGSU $14,508
  • UC $13,564
  • Average Net Price
  • BGSU $24,283
  • UC $24,696
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BGSU $9,310
  • UC $8,196
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BGSU 96%
  • UC 73%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BGSU 21,153
  • UC 34,285
  • Admitted
  • BGSU 17,125
  • UC 29,242
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BGSU 81%
  • UC 85.3%
  • Enrolled
  • BGSU 20.6%
  • UC 22.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BGSU 1110
  • UC 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • BGSU 22
  • UC 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • BGSU 3.6
  • UC 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BGSU B+
  • UC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • BGSU Moderate
  • UC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • BGSU
  • UC
  • ACT Range
  • BGSU 19/26
  • UC 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • BGSU 1000/1210
  • UC 1160/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BGSU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • UC Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • BGSU Jul 15, 2027
  • UC Mar 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BGSU 17:1
  • UC 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BGSU
    • Education (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • UC
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BGSU 58%
  • UC 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BGSU $43,600
  • UC $45,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BGSU 53%
  • UC 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BGSU $26,000
  • UC $23,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BGSU $268
  • UC $237
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BGSU 40%
  • UC 38%
  • % Women
  • BGSU 60%
  • UC 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BGSU Low
  • UC Low
  • HBCU
  • BGSU No
  • UC No
  • % White
  • BGSU 78%
  • UC 75%
  • % Asian
  • BGSU 1%
  • UC 3%
  • % Black
  • BGSU 10%
  • UC 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • BGSU 4%
  • UC 3%
  • % Native American
  • BGSU 0%
  • UC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BGSU 0%
  • UC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BGSU 3%
  • UC 3%
  • % International
  • BGSU 2%
  • UC 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BGSU 2%
  • UC 4%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BGSU 84%
  • UC 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BGSU 13%
  • UC 22%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Cincinnati Main Campus is larger than BGSU based on total student enrollment (45,026 students vs. 17,594 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is located in Bowling Green, OH (Distant Town setting); University of Cincinnati Main Campus is in Cincinnati, OH (Large City setting).
  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 17:1; University of Cincinnati Main Campus 19:1.

BGSU vs. UC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BGSU or UC? 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 UC ($24,283 vs. $24,696).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Cincinnati Main Campus are 6.5% lower than at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($13,564 vs. $14,508).
  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is 3.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC (about $484 more per year; $14,460.00 vs. $13,976.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.6% higher at UC than at Bowling Green State University Main Campus (about $6,862 more per year; $29,310.00 vs. $22,448.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (96% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowling Green State University Main Campus students is 13.6% larger than aid received by University of Cincinnati Main Campus students ($9,310 vs. $8,196).

BGSU vs. UC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (1270) is 160 points higher than at BGSU (1110).
  • Incoming UC students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 22 at BGSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 1000/1210; University of Cincinnati Main Campus 1160/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 19/26; University of Cincinnati Main Campus 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BGSU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); UC - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: BGSU Jul 15, 2027; UC Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UC students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at BGSU (3.6).
  • UC has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than BGSU (81%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.6% at BGSU vs. 22.5% at UC.

BGSU vs. UC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BGSU and UC? 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).

  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Bowling Green State University Main Campus's (58%).
  • Graduates from University of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than BGSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,600 vs. $43,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than BGSU graduates ($23,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, UC graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BGSU graduates ($237 vs. $268).
  • More UC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BGSU students, three years after graduation. (57% 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.