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Bowie State University

Bowie State University is a public campus in suburban Bowie, MD. It is one of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities — a federally recognized designation.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

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Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$16,935

family income
under $30k

$16,967

$30–48k

$19,731

$48–75k

$23,194

$75–110k

$23,943

over $110k

Average net price

$19,2982023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Bowie State University rose from $12,309 (2008) to $19,298 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$12,309
2009	$13,039
2010	$13,589
2011	$13,974
2012	$12,962
2013	$13,231
2014	$13,737
2015	$14,826
2016	$14,974
2017	$16,510
2018	$15,934
2019	$15,773
2020	$14,537
2021	$15,213
2022	$19,335
2023	$19,298

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$25,2202024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Bowie State University rose from $17,576 (2009) to $25,220 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$17,576
2010	$17,785
2011	$18,770
2012	$19,522
2013	$18,581
2014	$19,456
2015	$19,865
2016	$20,885
2017	$20,911
2018	$21,623
2019	$22,338
2020	$22,891
2021	$22,835
2022	$23,671
2023	$24,302
2024	$25,220

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$2,940	$8,512
2001	$2,941	$9,023
2002	$3,344	$10,360
2003	$4,722	$12,065
2004	$5,218	$13,583
2005	$5,481	$14,786
2006	$5,730	$15,382
2007	$5,939	$15,629
2008	$6,005	$16,226
2013	$6,971	$17,538
2014	$7,299	$17,875
2015	$7,660	$18,142
2016	$7,880	$18,416
2017	$8,064	$18,653
2018	$8,234	$18,874
2019	$8,444	$19,136
2020	$8,444	$19,136
2021	$8,558	$19,298
2022	$8,748	$19,470
2023	$8,999	$19,889

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Bowie State University reports tuition of $9,218 for in-state students and $19,938 for out-of-state students. Check Bowie State University’s residency rules, attendance budget and aid offer. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 5,043 undergrads, Bowie State University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

38.2% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Bowie State University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

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38.2%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Bowie State University has wandered from Fall 1991 to Fall 2018 entering cohorts — up to 43.4% at the peak — but ends near where it began, at 38.2%.

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	39%
1992 cohort	38.6%
1993 cohort	34.2%
1994 cohort	40.3%
1995 cohort	39.3%
1996 cohort	38.2%
1997 cohort	37.5%
1998 cohort	36.4%
1999 cohort	37.6%
2000 cohort	36.8%
2001 cohort	36.5%
2002 cohort	41.3%
2003 cohort	39.4%
2004 cohort	37.3%
2005 cohort	40.6%
2006 cohort	34.6%
2007 cohort	35.2%
2008 cohort	32.7%
2009 cohort	41.3%
2010 cohort	37.2%
2011 cohort	39.6%
2012 cohort	42.1%
2013 cohort	43.4%
2014 cohort	43.1%
2015 cohort	41.9%
2016 cohort	40.2%
2017 cohort	38.1%
2018 cohort	38.2%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$9,993	$3,800
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$11,000	$3,938
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$10,693	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$11,000	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$11,625	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$12,614	$5,251
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$13,268	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$13,585	$5,582
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$14,500	$6,625
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$14,672	$6,625
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$15,250	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$15,250	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$22,920	$11,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$22,924	$13,593
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$24,235	$11,750
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$24,000	$10,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$21,500	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$22,750	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$23,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$22,985	$11,250

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$43,877

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$50,034

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$54,537

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Bowie State University admitted 3,381 of 4,669 applicants in Fall 2024. The 72.4% rate describes that application pool.

72.4%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $8,999 in-state tuition · 2023–24 5,043 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Bowie State University received 4,669 applications and admitted 3,381 (72.4%), with 922 enrolling.

Bowie State University: scores were considered but optional in the Fall 2024 admissions cycle.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Acceptance rate

72.4%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	52.8%
Fall 2002	43.5%
Fall 2003	64.5%
Fall 2004	44.3%
Fall 2005	46.1%
Fall 2006	74.7%
Fall 2007	—
Fall 2008	—
Fall 2009	48.5%
Fall 2010	51.8%
Fall 2011	50%
Fall 2012	48%
Fall 2013	51.8%
Fall 2014	55.1%
Fall 2015	57.5%
Fall 2016	41.3%
Fall 2017	36%
Fall 2018	38%
Fall 2019	79.7%
Fall 2020	81.2%
Fall 2021	87%
Fall 2022	86.5%
Fall 2023	83.5%
Fall 2024	72.4%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

796–1083Fall 2023 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	790	970
Fall 2002	850	950
Fall 2003	790	970
Fall 2004	800	930
Fall 2005	981	1156
Fall 2006	985	1189
Fall 2007	867	873
Fall 2008	917	1600
Fall 2009	790	950
Fall 2010	810	960
Fall 2011	820	960
Fall 2012	810	980
Fall 2013	810	960
Fall 2014	810	940
Fall 2015	810	960
Fall 2016	780	940
Fall 2017	860	1040
Fall 2019	860	1030
Fall 2020	850	1020
Fall 2021	840	1020
Fall 2022	800	1048
Fall 2023	796	1083

IPEDS Fall 2001–2023, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

17–20Fall 2021 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

One filed value fell outside the usable range for this scale and isn't drawn here.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2004	16	19
Fall 2005	—	13
Fall 2010	16	20
Fall 2011	17	21
Fall 2012	16	19
Fall 2013	17	20
Fall 2014	15	18
Fall 2015	15	20
Fall 2016	15	19
Fall 2017	16	20
Fall 2019	16	21
Fall 2020	16	19
Fall 2021	17	20

IPEDS Fall 2004–2021, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

5,043Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Bowie State University rose from 3,557 (Fall 2002) to 5,043 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	3,557
Fall 2003	3,831
Fall 2004	3,953
Fall 2005	3,948
Fall 2006	4,034
Fall 2007	4,234
Fall 2008	4,161
Fall 2009	4,244
Fall 2010	4,271
Fall 2011	4,318
Fall 2012	4,247
Fall 2013	4,313
Fall 2014	4,401
Fall 2015	4,254
Fall 2016	4,632
Fall 2017	5,107
Fall 2018	5,197
Fall 2019	5,085
Fall 2020	5,286
Fall 2021	5,279
Fall 2022	5,289
Fall 2023	5,207
Fall 2024	5,043

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

68%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Bowie State University has held near 68% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	69%
Fall 2003 cohort	72%
Fall 2004 cohort	77%
Fall 2005 cohort	77%
Fall 2006 cohort	70%
Fall 2007 cohort	69%
Fall 2008 cohort	70%
Fall 2009 cohort	71%
Fall 2010 cohort	75%
Fall 2011 cohort	71%
Fall 2012 cohort	70%
Fall 2013 cohort	74%
Fall 2014 cohort	72%
Fall 2015 cohort	75%
Fall 2016 cohort	72%
Fall 2017 cohort	68%
Fall 2018 cohort	70%
Fall 2019 cohort	77%
Fall 2020 cohort	72%
Fall 2021 cohort	73%
Fall 2022 cohort	70%
Fall 2023 cohort	68%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Bowie State University

44.4% of Bowie State University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes Bowie State University as a primarily residential campus of 5,043 undergraduates — and 68.2% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Bowie State University's Fall 2024 filing has no usable score range. Bowie State University considered scores then; check today’s requirements.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Bowie State University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Bowie State University72.4%

Maryland median76.1%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Bowie State University$9,218

Maryland median$13,588

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Bowie State University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Bowie State University$54,537

Maryland median$61,797

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Bowie State University, Maryland and national reference values
Metric & basis	Bowie State University	Maryland median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	72.4%	76.1%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$9,218	$13,588	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$54,537	$61,797	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Bowie State University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Bowie State University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 15 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$103,814
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other	$97,030
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$70,427
History	$68,077
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$67,303
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$60,746
Biology, General	$59,995
Social Work	$57,224
Sociology	$57,075
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians	$56,818
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$55,788
Psychology, General	$54,082
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services	$53,181
English Language and Literature, General	$48,707
Design and Applied Arts	$33,841

These 15 fields listed for Bowie State University measure earnings after completion. The $54,537 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 11 additional Bowie State University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What is Bowie State University's acceptance rate?

72.4% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 3,381 admitted from 4,669 applicants.

How much does Bowie State University cost?

In-state tuition is $9,218; out-of-state students pay $19,938. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does Bowie State University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $54,537. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Maryland

Capitol Technology University — 74.4% admitted
University of Baltimore — 78.7% admitted
Goucher College — 77.7% admitted
Hood College — 77.8% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.