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Bowie State University
Bowie State University says yes to 72.4% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $54,537 median earnings.
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Bowie State University occupies suburban Bowie, MD — a public campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat. It is one of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities, a designation that shapes both its history and its present mission.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $103,814 four years out. 44.4% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 5,043 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 68.2% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 796 and 1083 — below the MD middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Bowie State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Bowie State University received 6,245 applications and admitted 5,217 (83.5%), with 991 enrolling.
You can apply to Bowie State University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 796 and 1083; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 423 | 485 | 540 |
| SAT Math | 373 | 450 | 543 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Bowie State University compares
| Bowie State University | Maryland median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 72.4% | 76.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $9,218 | $13,588 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $54,537 | $61,797 | $53,781 |
At $54,537, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($61,797). Look at Bowie State University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $9,218 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $19,938. For non-residents, Bowie State University's $19,938 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 5,043 undergrads, Bowie State University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
Fewer than half of Bowie State University students — 38.2% — finish within six years. That number should shape how much debt feels safe.
Top majors by earnings at Bowie State University
| Bachelor's program | 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 |
Median earnings for these 15 Bowie State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $54,537 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 11 additional Bowie State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Bowie State University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 796–1083 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 72.4% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Bowie State University's acceptance rate?
83.5% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 5,217 admitted from 6,245 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 do Bowie State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $54,537 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
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: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.