About
Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is a public research university in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The 1,338-acre (541.5 ha) main academic and residential campus is 15 miles (24 km) south of Toledo, Ohio. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 as a normal school, specializing in teacher training and education. The university has developed from a small rural normal school into a comprehensive public research university. It is a part of the University System of Ohio and is currently classified as R2: Doctoral Universities with high research activity.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 13.0-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 231 Title IV programs, 82 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 5 fail. 144 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing82 · 35.5%
- No Data144 · 62.3%
- Failing5 · 2.2%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Near the line (±5%)
Programs within five points of the pass line, one cohort year from flipping.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
Higher Learning Commission
Programmatic accreditations · 15
Action history · 16
- Jul 2025Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation · Professional Psychology (IPSY) - Predoctoral internship programs
- Oct 2024Initial AccreditationAmerican Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education · Physical Therapy (PT) - Professional programs for the physical therapist
- Apr 2024Renewal of AccreditationAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics · Dietetics (DIETI) - Dietetic Internship
- Jul 2023Renewal of AccreditationAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics · Dietetics (DIETI) - Dietetic Internship
- Jan 2023Renewal of AccreditationHigher Learning Commission
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 5,124 students received $28.6M in Pell grants, alongside $91.5M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 4,475 borrowers who entered repayment, 102 (2.2%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at BGSU
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 13
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus17
- Non-campus1
- Public property1
Includes 10 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
- Race1
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
- Founders Hall1 fireCookingDamage $0-$99
- Kreischer - Ashley Hall1 fireOtherDamage $0-$99
- Conklin North1 fireOtherDamage $0-$99
- Offenhauer West1 fireOtherDamage $0-$99
- Centennial Hall1 fireOtherDamage $0-$99
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
BGSU vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions BGSU selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectBowling Green State University-Main Campus | 64% | — | 17,594 | $20,918 | R2 Research |
| 62% | 85.5% | 21,089 | $15,898 | R2 Research | |
| 82% | 38.6% | 18,816 | $21,364 | R1 Research | |
| 65% | 88.2% | 21,546 | $18,996 | R2 Research | |
| 64% | 86.3% | 26,374 | $19,614 | R1 Research | |
| 80% | 75.4% | 18,838 | $27,662 | R2 Research | |
| 61% | 89.6% | 28,467 | $14,922 | R2 Research | |
| 49% | 69.8% | 15,414 | $12,909 | R2 Research | |
| 65% | 85.0% | 26,323 | $20,413 | R1 Research | |
| 54% | 79.9% | 44,956 | $15,235 | R1 Research | |
| 56% | 88.5% | 18,012 | $10,170 | R2 Research | |
| 49% | 99.1% | 13,170 | $14,224 | R1 Research | |
| 58% | 84.6% | 16,744 | $18,701 | R2 Research | |
| Peer group median | 62% | 85.2% | 18,838 | $18,701 |
Institutions like BGSU
Explore the federal data for institutions in BGSU's comparison group.
- R2 ResearchIndiana
Ball State University
Grad rate62%Admit rate85.5%Enrollment21,089Net price$15,898View data - R1 ResearchNew York
Binghamton University
Grad rate82%Admit rate38.6%Enrollment18,816Net price$21,364View data - R2 ResearchIllinois
Illinois State University
Grad rate65%Admit rate88.2%Enrollment21,546Net price$18,996View data - R1 ResearchOhio
Kent State University at Kent
Grad rate64%Admit rate86.3%Enrollment26,374Net price$19,614View data - R2 ResearchOhio
Miami University-Oxford
Grad rate80%Admit rate75.4%Enrollment18,838Net price$27,662View data - R2 ResearchArizona
Northern Arizona University
Grad rate61%Admit rate89.6%Enrollment28,467Net price$14,922View data - R2 ResearchIllinois
Northern Illinois University
Grad rate49%Admit rate69.8%Enrollment15,414Net price$12,909View data - R1 ResearchOhio
Ohio University-Main Campus
Grad rate65%Admit rate85.0%Enrollment26,323Net price$20,413View data - R1 ResearchTexas
The University of Texas at Arlington
Grad rate54%Admit rate79.9%Enrollment44,956Net price$15,235View data - R2 ResearchNorth Carolina
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Grad rate56%Admit rate88.5%Enrollment18,012Net price$10,170View data - R1 ResearchMississippi
University of Southern Mississippi
Grad rate49%Admit rate99.1%Enrollment13,170Net price$14,224View data - R2 ResearchMichigan
Western Michigan University
Grad rate58%Admit rate84.6%Enrollment16,744Net price$18,701View data
BGSU Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The Office of Institutional Research serves as the official source of institutional data for external reporting, providing data analytics, intuitive dashboards, and information that supports decision-making, complies with reporting requirements, and responds to ad hoc information requests.
Visit IR office page- John LommelDirector, Office of Institutional Effectiveness
- Oyebanjo A. Lajubutu, Ph.D.Director, Office of Institutional Research
- Jessica M. TurosAssociate Director, Office of Academic Assessment
- Ms. Jie WuAssistant Director, Office of Institutional Research
- Eric BellSurvey and Data Coordinator, Office of Academic Assessment
- Mr. Hong XuInstitutional Research Analyst
- Md Zehan Alam2025-2026 Graduate Assistant
- Mr. Dodd PaceInstitutional Report Analyst
- Samuella Owusu Ansah2025-2026 Graduate Assistant
- Mr. Andrew HuygheInstitutional Research Analyst
Reports & documents (5)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DashboardDashboardbgsu.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- FactbookOffice of Institutional Research2022This page provides an overview of the Office of Institutional Research at Bowling Green State University. It outlines the office's responsibilities, including serving as the official source of institutional data for external reporting, providing data analytics, intuitive dashboards, and supporting decision-making processes. The office is divided into four strategic teams focusing on Data Quality and Integrity, Data Analytics Reporting, State & Federal Reporting, and Predictive Modeling.bgsu.edu
- GlossaryGlossary of TermsThe glossary of terms provided by the Office of Institutional Research at Bowling Green State University details 94 key definitions relevant to higher education. These terms cover various aspects of academic processes, including program types, application procedures, student classifications, and financial aid. The glossary serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding the academic language and administrative processes utilized by the university and similar institutions.bgsu.edu
- Strategic planForward. BGSU Strategic Plan2025The 'Forward. BGSU Strategic Plan' outlines Bowling Green State University's commitment to creating public good through four strategic objectives: enhancing student success, fostering meaningful research and partnerships, empowering the community, and improving institutional efficiency. Each objective is supported by specific initiatives, such as developing relevant programs and enhancing career outcomes for students, expanding partnerships, and embracing innovation. The plan emphasizes Bowling Green State University's role as a 21st-century public university with a focus on student-centered learning and community impact.bgsu.edu
Grants & funding (1)
Federal grant awards and open funding opportunities awarded to this institution.
Notable alumni of BGSU (10)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Anthony DoerrArts and entertainment
- Tim ConwayArts and entertainment
- Eva Marie SaintArts and entertainment
- Scott HamiltonAthletics
- Nate ThurmondAthletics
- Orel HershiserAthletics
- Bob LattaPolitics
- Tim RyanPolitics
- Shantanu NarayenBusiness and philanthropy
- Jeremy ZawodnyTechnology
Frequently asked questions about Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about BGSU.
What is the graduation rate at Bowling Green State University-Main Campus?
How many students attend Bowling Green State University-Main Campus?
What is the average net price at Bowling Green State University-Main Campus?
What is the yield rate at Bowling Green State University-Main Campus?
Where is Bowling Green State University-Main Campus located?
Who runs Institutional Research at Bowling Green State University-Main Campus?
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