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Bowie , MD
Bowie State University is a public historically black university located in Bowie, Maryland. Founded in 1865, it is one of the oldest historically black colleges in the United States. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various fields, including business and economics, education, computer science, nursing, and the arts. Bowie State prides itself on its commitment to providing a supportive and inclusive learning environment that encourages intellectual growth, personal development, and social responsibility.
Bowie State University is known for its strong academic programs and faculty who are dedicated to student success. The campus offers state-of-the-art facilities, including modern classrooms, research labs, and recreational spaces. The university focuses on hands-on learning and provides various internship and co-operative education opportunities to help students gain practical experience in their fields of study.
Beyond academics, Bowie State University provides a vibrant campus life with a variety of clubs, organizations, and events that cater to diverse interests and backgrounds. The university is also home to an NCAA Division II athletic program, offering opportunities for student-athletes to excel competitively. With its rich history, commitment to academic excellence, and dedication to fostering an inclusive community, Bowie State University continues to be a leading institution that prepares its students for successful careers in a rapidly changing world.
Bowie State University is a public university located in Bowie, MD. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 75%. The freshman retention rate at Bowie State University is 68%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is May 15. Explore this school's profile to find out all the important things about Bowie State University.
Quick Facts
5,136
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. Read on to find out some relevant data about admission policy and requirements at Bowie State University.
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 3,381 in 2025. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.
Test Scores
5.8% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 0.4% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 1.88% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between between 1,200 and 1,399, 15.09% between 1,000 and 1,199, 52.83% between 800 and 999, and 30.18% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 18-23 was 25 and 75 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.16. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Bowie State University.
Deadlines
The cutoff date for submitting applications to Bowie State University is May 15.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
The freshman retention rate for Bowie State University was 68% in 2025.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better idea of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Bowie State University in 2025 was 6,353.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 15.55% for that year. There was a total of 5,136 undergrad students, including 78 international students. The school admitted a total of 428 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,875 male and 2,929 female full-time students in 2025. This school had 165 full-time graduate male and 306 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 47, and the number of Black American students was 4,107. 287 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 216 as multirace. The school also had 12 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 21 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 140 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Bowie State University.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Bowie State University estimated tuition fees.
Tuition fees for area resident were $5,993, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $16,833. Tuition costs at Bowie State University for international students amounted to $16,833. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $3,006 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $16,833 | $3,006 | $19,839 |
| In-State | $5,993 | $3,006 | $8,999 |
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to take into consideration is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to pay about $1,250 for books and supplies during their time at Bowie State University.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Bowie State University was $13,870 in 2025. If you only wanted a dorm room, you had to pay $7,852 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 5,993 |
| Room and Board | $ 13,870 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,250 |
| Total Expense | $ 21,113 |
Financial Aid
Financial support for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Bowie State University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 733 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students reached $10,209.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 2,250 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Bowie State University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 3,320. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $13,486,297, and state $5,196,780. The students of Bowie State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $4,700,890, and external in the amount of $1,759,719.
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
1,531 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. 311 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $40,295. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $10,995 USD.
Majors
Faculty
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Bowie State University was 15:1: that means 15 students per one teacher. According to the most recent information, there are 545 faculty members at this school. Out of that number, there were 227 men and 318 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Bowie State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Bowie State University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some info about campus life at Bowie State University.
It has a campus size of 295 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
Based on the most up-to-date information available, there are 52 open-membership organizations at Bowie State University. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. 6 percent of male and 10 of female students take part in in different organizations at Bowie State University. Students who have a talent for music can join the Bowie State University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. For students interested in media and communication, Bowie State University publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
At Bowie State University, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Bowie State University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Bowie State University.
Career Counselling
At Bowie State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Bowie State University is located in Bowie, MD.
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Bowie State University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Bowie State University is 75%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Bowie State University is 68%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.