BGSU vs. USC Aiken

Deciding between Bowling Green State University Main Campus and University of South Carolina Aiken? 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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BGSU Bowling Green, OH
  • USC Aiken Aiken, SC
  • Setting
  • BGSU Distant Town
  • USC Aiken Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • BGSU 17,594
  • USC Aiken 4,022
  • Type
  • BGSU Public 4 Year
  • USC Aiken Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BGSU #690
  • USC Aiken #819
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BGSU -
  • USC Aiken -
  • Status
  • BGSU Non-profit
  • USC Aiken Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BGSU
  • USC Aiken
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BGSU $14,460
  • USC Aiken $10,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BGSU $22,448
  • USC Aiken $21,218
  • Room & Board
  • BGSU $14,508
  • USC Aiken $9,182
  • Average Net Price
  • BGSU $24,283
  • USC Aiken $12,236
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BGSU $9,310
  • USC Aiken $8,904
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BGSU 96%
  • USC Aiken 93%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BGSU 21,153
  • USC Aiken 3,005
  • Admitted
  • BGSU 17,125
  • USC Aiken 2,360
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BGSU 81%
  • USC Aiken 78.5%
  • Enrolled
  • BGSU 20.6%
  • USC Aiken 28.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BGSU 1110
  • USC Aiken 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • BGSU 22
  • USC Aiken 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • BGSU 3.6
  • USC Aiken 3.19
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BGSU B+
  • USC Aiken B
  • Admissions Standards
  • BGSU Moderate
  • USC Aiken Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • BGSU
  • USC Aiken
  • ACT Range
  • BGSU 19/26
  • USC Aiken 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • BGSU 1000/1210
  • USC Aiken 980/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BGSU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • USC Aiken Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • BGSU Jul 15, 2027
  • USC Aiken Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BGSU 17:1
  • USC Aiken 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BGSU
    • Education (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • USC Aiken
    • Business (25%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BGSU 58%
  • USC Aiken 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BGSU $43,600
  • USC Aiken $39,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BGSU 53%
  • USC Aiken 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BGSU $26,000
  • USC Aiken $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BGSU $268
  • USC Aiken $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BGSU 43%
  • USC Aiken 34%
  • % Women
  • BGSU 57%
  • USC Aiken 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BGSU Low
  • USC Aiken High
  • HBCU
  • BGSU No
  • USC Aiken No
  • % White
  • BGSU 78%
  • USC Aiken 58%
  • % Asian
  • BGSU 1%
  • USC Aiken 1%
  • % Black
  • BGSU 10%
  • USC Aiken 27%
  • % Hispanic
  • BGSU 4%
  • USC Aiken 4%
  • % Native American
  • BGSU 0%
  • USC Aiken 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BGSU 0%
  • USC Aiken 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BGSU 3%
  • USC Aiken 4%
  • % International
  • BGSU 2%
  • USC Aiken 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BGSU 2%
  • USC Aiken 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BGSU 84%
  • USC Aiken 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BGSU 13%
  • USC Aiken 10%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than USC Aiken based on total student enrollment (17,594 students vs. 4,022 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 South Carolina Aiken is in Aiken, SC (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Carolina Aiken is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 17:1; University of South Carolina Aiken 16:1.

BGSU vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BGSU or USC Aiken? 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 University of South Carolina Aiken than BGSU ($12,236 vs. $24,283).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Aiken are 36.7% lower than at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($9,182 vs. $14,508).
  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is 34.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than USC Aiken (about $3,700 more per year; $14,460.00 vs. $10,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.8% higher at BGSU than at University of South Carolina Aiken (about $1,230 more per year; $22,448.00 vs. $21,218.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than at University of South Carolina Aiken (96% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowling Green State University Main Campus students is 4.6% larger than aid received by University of South Carolina Aiken students ($9,310 vs. $8,904).

BGSU vs. USC Aiken Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bowling Green State University Main Campus (1110) is 10 points higher than at USC Aiken (1100).
  • Incoming BGSU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 22) as students at USC Aiken (22).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 1000/1210; University of South Carolina Aiken 980/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowling Green State University Main Campus 19/26; University of South Carolina Aiken 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BGSU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); USC Aiken - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: BGSU Jul 15, 2027; USC Aiken Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BGSU students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at USC Aiken (3.19).
  • BGSU has a higher acceptance rate (81%) than USC Aiken (78.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.6% at BGSU vs. 28.2% at USC Aiken.

BGSU vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BGSU and USC Aiken? 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 University of South Carolina Aiken's (41%).
  • Graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than USC Aiken graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,600 vs. $39,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of South Carolina Aiken and BGSU graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, University of South Carolina Aiken and BGSU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($268 vs. $268).
  • More USC Aiken graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BGSU students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.