Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
- Graduation Rate
- 63% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $47,896 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $24,022 D
- 40% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 81% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 11.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $11.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $11.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,047,618.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $11.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Bowling Green State University Matters
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus is a public research university in Bowling Green, OH and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and 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 Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 12,812
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Education, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Bowling Green 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
Accessible — admits about 81% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1000–1210. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $24,022 a year after grants and scholarships — 40% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $47,896 ten years after enrolling — 17% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.60 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of over 12,800 students, Bowling Green State University in Ohio is a great fit for those looking for a larger campus experience without the ultra-competitive edge. The school has an acceptance rate of 81%, making it accessible for many. Students here often dive into programs like Education, Business and Marketing, Health Professions, and the Visual and Performing Arts, aligning with a range of career interests.
Looking at what happens after graduation, the numbers show that alumni earn a median salary of nearly $48,000 after ten years in the workforce. This figure gives a solid indication of how students can expect to fare financially once they leave. While we don’t have mobility rates, the graduation rate sits at 63%, suggesting that a good number of students are completing their degrees and moving into the job market.
When considering cost, the average net price after financial aid is about $24,022, with a median debt load of $25,000 for graduates. This is manageable for many, especially given the earnings potential. Students who tend to thrive here often seek practical, hands-on experiences and appreciate the diverse programs that align with their professional goals.
Rankings
- #21 Best Engineering Colleges in Ohio
- #23 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Ohio
- #27 Best Online Education Programs in Ohio
- #34 Best Education Colleges in Ohio
- #35 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Ohio
- #37 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Ohio
- #41 Best Online Nursing Programs in Ohio
- #42 Best Online Business Programs in Ohio
Can I Get In?
How selective Bowling Green State University-Main Campus 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 Bowling Green State University-Main Campus? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus, located in Bowling Green, Ohio, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 81%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,117. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Retention Rate
- 82%
- SAT Average
- 1117
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 1000–1210
- ACT Range
- 19–26
- Full-Time Faculty
- 71%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,477
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.38
- First-Gen Students
- 30%
- Applicants
- 17,447
- Admitted
- 13,723
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 Bowling Green State University-Main Campus? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bowling Green State University-Main Campus is $22,448, 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 $24,022. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,396 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $14,460
- Out-of-State
- $22,448
- Avg Net Price
- $24,022
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 23%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 48%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $18,396
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $18,547
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $21,820
- Family Income $110K+
- $27,414
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 Bowling Green State University-Main Campus — 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 Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bowling Green State University-Main Campus earn a median of $47,896, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $41,281
- 8 Years
- $44,746
- 10 Years
- $47,896
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.52x
- Earning > $25K
- 62%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,338)
- 44%
- 100% (1,338)
- 44%
- 100% (1,338)
- 44%
- 100% (1,338)
- 44%
How Bowling 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 Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Bowling Green State University-Main Campus delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $24,022/year ($96,088 total). Graduates earn $47,896 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,143,706 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,047,618 (11.9× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 63% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $96,088
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,143,706
- Net Return
- $1,047,618
- ROI Multiple
- 11.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $24,022
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 63%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $8,136,453
- Investment Income
- $-26,835,315
Top Programs
The fields Bowling Green State University-Main Campus 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.
- Education 20% $40,863 early-career
- Business & Marketing 14% $74,862 early-career
- Health Professions 10% $67,676 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 7% $42,044 early-career
- Psychology 5% $33,777 early-career
- Criminal Justice 4% $46,195 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 4% $31,404 early-career
- Engineering 3% $73,851 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 Bowling Green State University-Main Campus'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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bowling Green State University-Main Campus? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus, located in Bowling Green, Ohio, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 81%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,117. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bowling Green State University-Main Campus? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bowling Green State University-Main Campus is $22,448, 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 $24,022. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,396 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bowling Green State University-Main Campus earn a median of $47,896, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Bowling Green State University-Main Campus? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Bowling Green State University-Main Campus. Its economic connectedness score is 1.60, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Bowling Green State University-Main Campus.
- Montana State UniversityBozeman, MT · Close peer57% grad $53,263 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Missouri State University-SpringfieldSpringfield, MO · Close peer58% grad $49,827 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, AL · Close peer63% grad $54,501 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Boise State UniversityBoise, ID · Close peer61% grad $51,658 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN · Close peer63% grad $51,833 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI · Close peer58% grad $53,562 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Bowling Green State University-Main Campus? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Bowling Green State University-Main Campus. Its economic connectedness score is 1.60, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note