Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Bowling Green State University-Main Campus #747 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,636 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 34.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Bowling Green State University-Main Campus #940 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Bowling Green State University's published cost of attendance is $33,007. Net price varies meaningfully by income level: low-income families pay approximately $18,396, middle-income families pay around $21,820, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,414. Azimuth ranks Bowling Green State University-Main Campus #975 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Bowling Green State University uses need-based financial aid to reshape the sticker price across income levels. The difference between published cost of attendance and actual net price reflects the institution's aid structure, which combines federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA, and aid packages are determined based on demonstrated financial need. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,947; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $54,998, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus is a public university in OH that delivers solid outcomes for students focused on business-oriented fields and practical career preparation. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $54,998, placing Bowling Green State University-Main Campus in the 24.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $5,636 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 34.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 23.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 30.3% are first-generation — and delivers completion rates that place Bowling Green State University-Main Campus in the 49.6% percentile for Pell completion among nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $27,414, with need-based aid available to help close the gap. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 81.0% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix favors Business and related applied fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a practical, career-oriented education at Bowling Green State University-Main Campus.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
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This is the Bowling Green State University-Main Campus hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Azimuth ranks Bowling Green State University-Main Campus #747 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public research university (Carnegie R2) in Bowling Green, Ohio, Bowling Green State University-Main Campus enrolls roughly 12,812 undergraduates. Retention is 81.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 63.7%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional public institution. Where Bowling Green State University-Main Campus performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Bowling Green State University-Main Campus #940 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $54,998, and earn about $5,636 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Bowling Green State University-Main Campus in the 34.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the university's strength in Business and related fields that lead directly into stable, well-paying careers in the regional labor market. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Bowling Green State University-Main Campus sits in the 66.3 percentile for access and the 31.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 23.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 30.3% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student body with meaningful financial need. For students focused on strong long-term earnings at an accessible public university, Bowling Green State University-Main Campus offers a reliable pathway to solid financial outcomes without the cost premium of selective private institutions.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Bowling Green State University's published cost of attendance is $33,007. Net price varies meaningfully by income level: low-income families pay approximately $18,396, middle-income families pay around $21,820, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,414.
Azimuth ranks Bowling Green State University-Main Campus #975 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Bowling Green State University uses need-based financial aid to reshape the sticker price across income levels. The difference between published cost of attendance and actual net price reflects the institution's aid structure, which combines federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid.
Families apply using the FAFSA, and aid packages are determined based on demonstrated financial need. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,947; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $54,998, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Bowling Green State University earn median 4-year earnings of $54,998, placing Bowling Green State University-Main Campus in the 24.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,636 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Bowling Green State University-Main Campus in the 34.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Bowling Green State University-Main Campus #940 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Bowling Green State University-Main Campus's concentration in business and applied fields.
Special Education and Teaching is the largest program with 204 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $45,224, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 128 students earning $79,291 four years after enrollment, while Kinesiology delivers median earnings of $52,818 across 127 graduates.
Biology, General and Teacher Education round out the top programs, with four-year earnings of $47,131 and $45,168 respectively. This program mix — anchored in Business — supports stable career pathways and consistent outcomes across the institution's degree portfolio.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northern Michigan University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#21358 ranked) | MI | 84% | $47,107 | #21358 | Compare |
Coastal Carolina University Similar quality tier (#21974 ranked) | SC | 75% | $47,258 | #21974 | Compare |
Morehead State University Similar quality tier (#20822 ranked) | KY | 77% | $43,197 | #20822 | Compare |
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania Similar quality tier (#22500 ranked) | PA | 86% | $55,246 | #22500 | Compare |
Georgia College & State University Similar quality tier (#19235 ranked) | GA | 78% | $58,140 | #19235 | Compare |
Computer Engineering
49 graduates
Engineering-Related Fields
53 graduates
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
36 graduates
Management Information Systems and Services
27 graduates
Information Science/Studies
29 graduates
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus's program mix is anchored in Business and applied professional fields. Special Education and Teaching is the largest program with 204 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Kinesiology, Biology, General, and Teacher Education.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 3,012 students annually, several deliver solid four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. The strongest earnings performers reflect the institution's applied-professional orientation.
Business Administration leads with median earnings of $79,291 four years after enrollment and 128 graduates, followed by Nursing with $78,798 and 93 graduates. Digital Marketing delivers $65,926 with 91 graduates, while Kinesiology and $52,818 round out the higher-earning cluster.
These programs span business, engineering, and technology-adjacent fields where employers actively recruit and early-career advancement is steady. Several of these programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes.
Others, particularly in education and social sciences, represent grad-school-dependent or local-labor-market pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory or reflect regional hiring patterns rather than national mobility. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Bowling Green State University-Main Campus's dominant program families align with current labor-market demand and wage trends.
