Real Videos
Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) vs. Bowling Green State University-Main Campus (BGSU) Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) or BGSU?“
Ohio University-Main Campus (OU)
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus (BGSU)
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) and Bowling Green State University-Main Campus (BGSU). This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) and Bowling Green State University-Main Campus (BGSU)
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) and Bowling Green State University-Main Campus (BGSU). The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus (BGSU) | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $11,548 | $10,796 |
| Net Price | $20,826 | $18,437 |
| Average Financial Aid | $4,469 | $5,400 |
| Total Undergraduates | 23335 | 13900 |
| Average SAT Scores | 990 - 1210 | 900 - 1150 |
| Acceptance Rate | 74 | 73 |
| Location | 020 Chubb Hall | 220 McFall Ctr |
| City Name | Athens | Bowling Green |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, Bowling Green State University-Main Campus (BGSU) is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Athens and Bowling Green. Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) is in a East North Central and BGSU is in a East North Central - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) or Bowling Green State University-Main Campus (BGSU) Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then Bowling Green State University-Main Campus (BGSU) is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that Bowling Green State University-Main Campus (BGSU) is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) Dorms Compare to housing Options at BGSU?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) charges for on-campus living, while BGSU charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) and BGSU student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| Ohio University-Main Campus (OU), % | BGSU,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 83.03 | 77.53 |
| Hispanic | 2.74 | 4.12 |
| Black | 4.97 | 9.83 |
| Foreign | 3.4799999999999995 | 1.8800000000000001 |
| Others | 5.8 | 6.6 |
How different is the Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) campus compared to Bowling Green State University-Main Campus (BGSU) campus?
The Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) campus is located in Athens, OH and is characterized as Town: Distant (in urban cluster more than 10 miles and up to 35 miles from an urbanized area). The BGSU campus is located in Bowling Green, OH and is characterized as Town: Fringe (in urban cluster up to 10 miles from an urbanized area).
Which school gives more financial aid?
Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) provides $4,469 whereas BGSU provides an average of $5,400.
How does Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) academics compare to BGSU?
When analyzing academics between Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) and Bowling Green State University-Main Campus (BGSU) we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) | BGSU |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | N/A | 23 |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | 34 |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 14 | 15 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 627 | 73 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 104 | 23 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | 76 |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 177 | 89 |
| Education | 289 | 517 |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | 52 | 59 |
Which is better: Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) or Bowling Green State University-Main Campus (BGSU)?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) and BGSU. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
%20vs.%20BGSU%202025&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.campusreel.org%2Fcompare-colleges%2Fohio-university-main-campus-or-bowling-green-state-university-main-campus&auid=36838658-5dcf-44e8-8304-5a1cc3225f57)
How does Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) social life compare to BGSU?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how Ohio University-Main Campus (OU) social life differs from BGSU.
Check here.
Check here.