Bridgewater State vs Bowie State
Bridgewater State University and Bowie State University, both public institutions with rich histories, offer distinct educational experiences. Bridgewater State, located in Massachusetts, boasts a higher acceptance rate (83%) compared to Bowie State's 69% in Maryland. While Bridgewater State excels in fields like Business, Education, and Psychology, Bowie State shines in areas such as Business, Social Sciences, and Education. Bridgewater State's student body is predominantly White (68%), while Bowie State's is predominantly Black or African American (82%). With a higher graduation rate (63%) compared to Bowie State's 54%, Bridgewater State ensures a greater likelihood of students completing their degrees. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Bowie State University |
![]() Bridgewater State University |
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Overview |
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Location | Bowie, Maryland | Bridgewater, Massachusetts |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 72.0% | 79.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 87.0% | 86.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$40
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Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 840 - 1020 | 1010 - 1200 |
ACT range | 17 - 20 | 19 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 17.0% | 18.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 1.0% | 1.0% |
Total number of applicants | 4,978 | 8,881 |
Total number of admissions given out | 4,333 | 7,671 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 913 | 1,382 |
Yield rate | 21.1% | 18.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$26,504
Out of state:
$37,244
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In state:
$29,164
Out of state:
$35,304
|
Average net price | $14,290 | $12,744 |
Tuition |
In state:
$5,760
Out of state:
$16,500
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In state:
$910
Out of state:
$7,050
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,616
Meal plan:
$4,842
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Room/dormitory:
$9,256
Meal plan:
$4,576
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
78.0%
Average amount $9,115 |
74.0%
Average amount $7,617 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
49.0%
Average amount $5,364 |
81.0%
Average amount $3,681 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $14,572 |
13.0%
Average amount $12,080 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
5,381
Men 39.0% Women 61.0% |
8,369
Men 40.7% Women 59.3% |
Graduate students |
927
Men 31.8% Women 68.2% |
1,573
Men 23.2% Women 76.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 2.8% | 0.6% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,600 | 3,304 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Mississippi Rhode Island Connecticut New Hampshire Maine |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 18:1 | 19:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 41.9% | 62.4% |
Dropout rate | 24.0% | 35.1% |
Transferred out | 30.0% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Air Transportation (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
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