SAU vs. BGSU

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

 SAU BGSU
Location Spring Arbor, MI Bowling Green, OH
Setting Small Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 2,396 16,920
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #501 #728
Religious Affiliation Free Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website arbor.edu bgsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SAU BGSU
Tuition (In State) $31,020 $11,272
Tuition (Out of State) $31,020 $19,845
Room & Board $10,652 $12,584
Avg Net Price $22,375 $20,485
Avg Grant Aid $20,677 $8,898
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 95%

Admission

 SAU BGSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,312 17,447
Admitted 1,094 13,723
Acceptance Rate 47.3% 78.7%
Enrolled % 20.8% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 20/25
SAT Range 970/1135 990/1200
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

Academics

 SAU BGSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Work and Family Studies (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

 SAU BGSU
Graduation Rate 56% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,600 $43,600
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,043 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $268

Diversity

 SAU BGSU
% Men 23% 42%
% Women 77% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 78%
% Black 10% 10%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

 SAU BGSU
% In-State 83% 88%
% Out-of-State 13% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than than SAU based on total student enrollment (16,920 students vs. 2,396 students)

SAU vs. BGSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SAU or BGSU?

  • Spring Arbor University is 175.2% more expensive to attend than BGSU for in-state tuition ($31,020.00 vs. $11,272.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 56.3% higher at SAU than Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($31,020.00 vs. $19,845.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than SAU ($20,485 vs. $22,375)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spring Arbor University are 18.1% lower than costs at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($10,652 vs. $12,584)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Spring Arbor University than Bowling Green State University Main Campus (99% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Spring Arbor University students is 132.4% larger than aid received Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($20,677 vs. $8,898)

SAU vs. BGSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Spring Arbor University (1073) is 61 points higher than at BGSU (1012)
  • Incoming SAU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at BGSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman SAU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at BGSU (3.6)
  • BGSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.7%) than SAU (47.3%)

SAU vs. BGSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SAU or BGSU? 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 BGSU and SAU.

  • The graduation rate at BGSU is higher than Spring Arbor University (58% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn on average $1,000 more per year than SAU graduates after ten years. ($43,600 vs. $42,600)
  • Spring Arbor University students graduate with a $1,957 lower median federal student loan debt than BGSU graduates. ($24,043 vs. $26,000)
  • SAU graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than BGSU graduates. ($248 vs. $268)
  • More SAU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BGSU students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 53%)

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