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Bowie State University

Bowie, Maryland · Public · 4-year · Suburb

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At a glance

Average net price
$19,298What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
72%
Graduation rate
38%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
5,043
In-state tuition
$9,218Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$19,938
SAT midpoint
930
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$54,537Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$19,298

Better than 15% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

38%

Better than 20% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$54,537

Better than 49% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$22,985

Better than 29% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$25,220

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$19,298

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Bowie State University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time38%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return68%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$22,985
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$54,537

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Bowie State University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$70,27830
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other$58,00668
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$52,61927
Business Administration, Management and Operations$50,683147
Criminal Justice and Corrections$41,367102
Sociology$38,89335
Psychology, General$36,76587
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$36,38124
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians$35,16897
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$34,25721
Social Work$32,98932
Biology, General$26,26660
Design and Applied ArtsNot reported43
HistoryNot reported26
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralNot reported26
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported10
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported9
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reported5
MathematicsNot reported4
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational BiologyNot reported1
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNot reported1
ChemistryNot reported1
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Social Sciences, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Political Science and GovernmentNot reportedNot reported
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reportedNot reported

All 26 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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