Bowie State University
- Graduation Rate
- 38% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $54,537 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $19,298 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 72% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 18.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.6 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $18.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,361,787.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 34% above the national college median.
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Graduation of 38% — 33% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $18.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Bowie State University Matters
Bowie State University is a public university in Bowie, MD and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 5,043
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HBCU
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Criminal Justice, Psychology
Why students choose Bowie State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 72% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $19,298 a year after grants and scholarships — 13% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $54,537 ten years after enrolling — 34% above the typical college, against $22,985 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.66 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Bowie State University might be a great fit if you're looking for a supportive environment with a sizable student body of about 5,000. With a 72% acceptance rate, it welcomes a diverse range of students. Here, you can dive into programs like Business and Marketing, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Psychology, and Biology. Each of these fields has its own merits, especially as they align with current job markets.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $54,537 within ten years, which is a solid starting point for many. It’s encouraging to know that nearly half of the students receive Pell Grants, making education more accessible. While the graduation rate sits at 38%, this indicates that many students are still navigating their paths, and the ones who do succeed in completing their degrees can see a promising return on their investment.
When it comes to the financial side, the net price after aid stands at $19,298, with a median debt of $22,985. This means many graduates leave with a manageable debt load, which is essential for starting their careers. Students who tend to thrive here are often those who appreciate a collaborative community and are willing to seek out resources and support.
Rankings
- #11 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Maryland
- #14 Best Education Colleges in Maryland
- #16 Best HBCUs for Computer Science
- #16 Best HBCUs for Data Science
- #16 Best HBCUs for Cybersecurity
- #16 Best HBCUs for Information Technology
- #17 Best Psychology Colleges in Maryland
- #17 Best Biology Colleges in Maryland
Can I Get In?
How selective Bowie State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bowie State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Bowie State University, located in Bowie, Maryland, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 72%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 19. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 72%
- Retention Rate
- 68%
- ACT Midpoint
- 19
- Full-Time Faculty
- 46%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,118
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.33
- First-Gen Students
- 36%
- Applicants
- 5,445
- Admitted
- 4,712
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bowie State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bowie State University is $19,938, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,298. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,071 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,985 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $9,218
- Out-of-State
- $19,938
- Avg Net Price
- $19,298
- Median Debt
- $22,985
- Pell Grant Rate
- 44%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 44%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $17,071
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $16,646
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,163
- Family Income $110K+
- $24,919
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Bowie State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Bowie State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bowie State University earn a median of $54,537, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $43,877
- 8 Years
- $50,034
- 10 Years
- $54,537
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.42x
- Earning > $25K
- 61%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (101)
- 17%
- 100% (101)
- 17%
- 100% (101)
- 17%
- 100% (101)
- 17%
How Bowie Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Bowie State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Bowie State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $19,298/year ($77,192 total). Graduates earn $54,537 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,438,979 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,361,787 (18.6× your investment). The median debt is $22,985, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 38% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $77,192
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,438,979
- Net Return
- $1,361,787
- ROI Multiple
- 18.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $19,298
- Median Debt
- $22,985
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 38%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $436,419
Top Programs
The fields Bowie State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 16% $54,760 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 12% $69,715 early-career
- Criminal Justice 10% $39,121 early-career
- Psychology 10% $38,614 early-career
- Education 9% $51,919 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 7% $31,822 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 6% $31,743 early-career
- Health Professions 5% $73,682 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Bowie State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bowie State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Bowie State University, located in Bowie, Maryland, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 72%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 19. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bowie State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bowie State University is $19,938, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,298. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,071 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,985 in federal student loans.
Is Bowie State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bowie State University earn a median of $54,537, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Bowie State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Bowie State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.66, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Bowie State University.
- Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, IL · Close peer45% grad $54,163 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- SUNY BrockportBrockport, NY · Close peer56% grad $54,496 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- SUNY Buffalo State UniversityBuffalo, NY · Close peer35% grad $52,334 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Winona State UniversityWinona, MN · Close peer59% grad $58,532 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Lindenwood UniversitySaint Charles, MO · Close peer50% grad $53,278 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- East Stroudsburg University of PennsylvaniaEast Stroudsburg, PA · Close peer44% grad $56,148 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Bowie State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Bowie State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.66, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note