Campus & Student Life at Bowie State University

Home to about 5,354 undergraduates in 2020, Bowie State University is a public university located in Bowie, Maryland. A safe, suburban environment can offer many of the amenities of city living without the constant hum. Should you tire of the campus however, Bowie State University offers a “study abroad” program. Please note, some classes/degrees offered by Bowie State University can be taken “online” so keep that in mind when reviewing this report. For more context, you might also check out our Bowie State University Guide to Distance and Online Learning.

Bowie State University is an "Historically Black College or University" (HBCU)

The Higher Education Act of 1965 established historically black colleges and universities as institutions whose principal mission was the education of African-Americans. Today, the HBCU designation does not necessitate that Bowie State University is exclusively or even predominantly African-American (though it currently is). Thanks to integration efforts, there are HBCUs with non-black majorities and non-HBCUs with black majorities. For more information you can review the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Bowie State University Has a Disability Services Site

For more information on policies and accommodations that the university provides to ensure all students get the opportunity to participate, you can visit Bowie State University Disability Services.

Bowie State University for the Military

While not a "service academy", Bowie State University does offer support for veterans and those seeking a career in the armed forces. Undergraduates have access to one or more ROTC programs and there is an active student veterans group on campus. For more information on policies related to veterans, you can visit Bowie State University Veteran Services . For more information, check out our Bowie State University for Veterans Guide.

Freshmen Living Arrangements at Bowie State University

Bowie State University offers on-campus housing, but freshmen are not required to take advantage of it. In the end though, most do choose to live in the dorms.

* Data compiled from students who received financial aid, including loans.

Full-time vs. Part-time Studies at Bowie State University

There were 5,354 undergraduates in 2020. Full-time attendance was 4,429 (82.7%). Part-time attendance was 925 (17.3%).

Bowie State University is Ranked #2,054 for Overall Diversity

Compared to other colleges and universities across the nation, Bowie State University is about average in terms of overall diversity. We rank Bowie State University #2054 out of 3,451.

The chart below shows each element that we looked at to determine this ranking, and how that metric compares to the national average. 100 would indicate excellent diversity in each category, and 1 would mean poor diversity.

You can learn more about the diversity of the student body at Bowie State University by looking closer at the ethnic,  gender,  age, and geographic diversity metrics from the Bowie State University Diversity Guide.

Bowie State University Competes in the NCAA

Bowie State University has a total of 225 student athletes, 144 men and 81 women who compete in inter-collegiate athletics.

Athletics Financing

For more information about athletics including per-team sizes, coaching and scholarships check out our Guide to Bowie State University Athletics