US CollegesGetting in
Bowie State University admits 72% of those who apply, which makes it open to most applicants. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The midpoint ACT score is 19 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees, students from Maryland | $9,529 |
| Tuition and fees, students from elsewhere | $20,464 |
| Room and meals on campus | $13,244 |
| Books and supplies | $1,600 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $22,321 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $17,835 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is 21% above the median net price of colleges in Maryland on this site ($14,767). International students are normally charged the out-of-state tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $15,356 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $15,516 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $16,665 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $20,494 |
| Above $110,000 | $22,228 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | MD median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 68% | 72% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 37% | 45% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $61,890 | $59,069 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $20,550 | $18,875 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Maryland and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
51% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 50% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 60% women and 40% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 13 of the 47 colleges in Maryland on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,990.
Other colleges in Maryland of a similar size
- United States Naval AcademyAnnapolis, public
- Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, private nonprofit
- Salisbury UniversitySalisbury, public
- Loyola University MarylandBaltimore, private nonprofit
- Stevenson UniversityOwings Mills, private nonprofit
- Frostburg State UniversityFrostburg, public
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Bowie State University?
Bowie State University admits 72% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Bowie State University?
Published tuition and fees are $9,529 a year for students from Maryland and $20,464 for others. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Bowie State University?
37% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.