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Is Bowie State University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Bowie State, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Bowie State sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $54,537 helps, but median debt of $22,985 plus yearly net price of $19,298 creates a tighter path. For context, Bowie State's net price runs about 23% above the typical 4-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$16,117
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $2,963 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $12,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$19,298
Median earnings 10 years out
$54,537
Median debt at graduation
$22,985
Graduation rate
38%
At Bowie State, a typical graduate carries about $22,985 in student debt and earns roughly $54,537 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $261 per month, or 6% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Bowie State is a public four year school in Bowie, MD. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's City, MD
Worth-It Score: 71/100
Median net price: $18,441
Public 4-year
Salisbury
Salisbury, MD
Worth-It Score: 72/100
Median net price: $17,743
Public 4-year
Towson
Towson, MD
Worth-It Score: 75/100
Median net price: $17,413
Public 4-year
University of Maryland Global Campus
Adelphi, MD
Worth-It Score: 56/100
Median net price: $22,063
Public 4-year
Frostburg State
Frostburg, MD
Worth-It Score: 62/100
Median net price: $16,715
Common questions about Bowie State
The median net price at Bowie State is $19,298 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in Maryland? See the most affordable public universities in Maryland →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →