Bowie State University (Bowie, MD) — Cost, Earnings & Admissions

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $19,3351,022nd cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $8,999484th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $19,889854th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $24,302641st cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $22,985993rd lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $54,537819th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $43,877954th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 38.1%1,568th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 69.9%1,244th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 83.5%1,025th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: 935999th highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT: 19867th highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates: 5,207485th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 16.0:11,471st smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 43.9%555th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 12 mi (BWI)

On 3 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 27 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professions	bachelors	$68,638	$62,012
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, OtherComputer Science	bachelors	$52,107	$58,673
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness	bachelors	$44,305	$46,087
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsEducation	bachelors	$44,170	$43,696
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesFamily & Consumer Sciences	bachelors	$40,089	$34,526
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsHomeland Security & Law Enforcement	bachelors	$39,369	$32,925
Psychology, GeneralPsychology	bachelors	$37,748	$32,498
SociologySocial Sciences	bachelors	$37,478	$37,748
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/TechniciansCommunications Technology	bachelors	$34,704	$27,048
Social WorkPublic Administration	bachelors	$32,925	$23,649
Health and Physical Education/FitnessParks, Recreation & Fitness	bachelors	$28,019	—
Design and Applied ArtsVisual & Performing Arts	bachelors	$26,739	$26,715

Campus facts

A Historically Black College or University (HBCU)source
Founded in 1865source
Athletic nickname: "Bulldogs"source
Competes in NCAA Division IIsource
School colors: Black and Goldsource
Mascot: Butch the Bulldogsource
Formerly known as "{{collapsible list|"source
Formerly known as "* Baltimore Normal School for Colored Teachers" (1867–1883)source
Formerly known as "* Baltimore Normal School" (1883–1908)source
Formerly known as "* Maryland Normal and Industrial School at Bowie" (1908–1935)source
Formerly known as "* Maryland Teachers College at Bowie" (1935–1963)source
Formerly known as "* Bowie State College" (1963–1988)source
Formerly known as "}}"source
Athletic conference: CIAAsource
Notable alum: Toni Braxtonsource
Notable alum: Christa McAuliffesource
Notable alum: Walesource

Athletics — 9 sports + curated flag football

NCAA Division II with football · NCAA Division II

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $1,130,616 (M $608,948 · W $521,668)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Women’s flag football is curated (not yet a stable EADA sport filter).