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Bowie, MD · Towson, MD
| Bowie State University | Towson University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $19,298/yr | $17,413/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $17,071/yr | $6,962/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $22,985 | $18,718 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $16,646/yr | $12,590/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $19,163/yr | $16,784/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $22,808/yr | $22,720/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $24,919/yr | $26,396/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $244/mo | $198/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $12,241/yr | $16,260/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $13,721/yr | $16,260/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $2,500/yr | $960/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $1,660/yr | $3,782/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $25,220/yr | $28,535/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $9,218/yr | $11,728/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $19,938/yr | $29,820/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 44% | 36% |
| Students taking federal loans | 44% | 42% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 72% | 82% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 950–1235 |
| SAT average | No data reported | 1095 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 19–27 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | No data reported | English 19–27 · Math 16–25 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 6,245 | 18,948 |
| Students accepted | 5,217 | 15,689 |
| Students who enrolled | 991 | 3,014 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 19% | 19% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 1% | 15% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | No data reported | 2% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 38% | 69% |
| Freshmen who come back | 68% | 83% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $54,537/yr | $64,390/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $32,913–$78,678 | $43,971–$88,498 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 48% | 73% |
| White students graduating | 25% | 71% |
| Black students graduating | 39% | 71% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 43% | 65% |
| Asian students graduating | 56% | 67% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $43,877/yr | $54,302/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 74% | 83% |
| Graduate on time | 16% | 47% |
| Pell students who graduate | 34% | 66% |
| First-gen students who finish | 29% | 68% |
| Low-income students who finish | 30% | 65% |
| Students who transfer out | 30% | 19% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $50,034/yr | $59,840/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Computer & Information Sciences 12% · Homeland Security & Protective Services 10% | Business, Management & Marketing 15% · Health Professions 13% · Computer & Information Sciences 13% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 15% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 12% of degrees | Health Professions — 13% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 10% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 13% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 10% of degrees | Psychology — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Communications Technologies — 9% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 9% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Public Administration — $73,949/yr | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $118,584/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 19% | 19% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 5,043 | 16,136 |
| Students per professor | 15 : 1 | 14 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,217 | 3,137 |
| Average professor pay | $11,118/mo | $9,975/mo |
| Full-time professors | 46% | 57% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Median family income | $36,428 | $59,362 |
| Setting | Suburb (large) | City (small) |
| Location | Bowie, MD | Towson, MD |
| Region | Mid East | Mid East |
| Founded | 1865 | 1866 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 1.6% | 1% |
| Men | 40% | 41% |
| Women | 60% | 59% |
| White students | 2.7% | 38% |
| Black students | 81% | 36% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 5.7% | 12% |
| Asian students | 0.9% | 6.7% |
| Two or more races | 4.3% | 5.9% |
| Other / not reported | 3.4% | 1.5% |
| Special type | HBCU | None |
| First-generation students | 36% | 29% |
| Part-time students | 15% | 11% |
| Students age 25+ | 16% | 9.5% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $10,087/yr | $10,084/yr |
| Endowment | $47.3M | $114.6M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,900 | 5,000 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $8,484/yr | $8,214/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,386/yr | $7,000/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 19 meals/week | 21 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II with football | NCAA Division I-FCS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 13 | 17 |
| Student athletes | 322 | 543 |
| Athletic scholarships | $1.1M | $8.9M |
| Athletics budget | $7.4M | $29.4M |
| Athletics revenue | $7.4M | $29.4M |
| Recruiting spend | $0 | $392,389 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.