Bowie State University Acceptance Rate
Bowie, Maryland · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 6,245
- Admitted
- 5,217
- Yield
- 19%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Bowie State University's acceptance rate has risen from 55.1% in 2014–15 to 83.5% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 2,953 to 6,245 (+111%) over that period.
Its 83.5% rate makes Bowie State University more selective than about 35% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 23 tracked Maryland schools, it is more selective than about 22%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (85% for women vs 80.1% for men, a 4.9-point gap). Bowie State University has been test-optional since 2017–18. Of admitted students, 19% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 2,953 | 1,626 | 55.1% | 596 |
| 2015–16 | 2,671 | 1,535 | 57.5% | 591 |
| 2016–17 | 6,735 | 2,779 | 41.3% | 967 |
| 2017–18 | 10,816 | 3,894 | 36% | 1,086 |
| 2018–19 | 10,601 | 4,029 | 38% | 909 |
| 2019–20 | 4,849 | 3,863 | 79.7% | 821 |
| 2020–21 | 5,168 | 4,197 | 81.2% | 970 |
| 2021–22 | 4,978 | 4,333 | 87% | 913 |
| 2022–23 | 5,445 | 4,712 | 86.5% | 1,188 |
| 2023–24 | 6,245 | 5,217 | 83.5% | 991 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 4,361 | 3,708 | 85% |
| Men | 1,884 | 1,509 | 80.1% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 423–540 | 1% |
| SAT Math | 373–543 |
How Bowie State University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Bowie State University's acceptance rate?
Bowie State University's acceptance rate is 83.5% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (5,217 admitted of 6,245 applicants).
Is Bowie State University test optional?
Bowie State University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Bowie State University?
Bowie State University received 6,245 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 5,217.
What SAT score do you need for Bowie State University?
Admitted students at Bowie State University typically scored 423–540 on SAT Reading/Writing and 373–543 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Bowie State University getting harder to get into?
Bowie State University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 55.1% in 2014–15 to 83.5% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.bowiestate.edu/.