Bowling Green State University

What Bowling Green State University does

Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is a public, state-funded research university founded in 1910 in Bowling Green, Ohio. The institution operates across two physical campuses—the main Bowling Green campus and the BGSU Firelands regional campus in Huron, Ohio—plus a BGSU Online channel for remote learners. BGSU delivers undergraduate, graduate, and fully online programs across seven colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Development, Engineering and Innovation, Graduate, Health and Human Services, and Musical Arts, plus an Honors College. Headcount is reported at 5,001–10,000, consistent with a mid-to-large public university.

The university's core academic infrastructure includes the recently completed Engineering and Innovation Center, which houses specialty labs in robotics, mixed-reality AI/AR, semiconductor fabrication, and 3D metal printing. Its flagship non-academic programs are the Life Design program—a nationally scaled career and well-being curriculum unique at this breadth—and the Falcon Professional Network, an alumni-student mentorship platform. Tier-one research designation (U.S. News & World Report) and Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement Classification anchor its research and community positioning.

BGSU's revenue model is a hybrid of tuition and fees (undergraduate, graduate, online), Ohio state appropriations, federal/state/private research grants, and public-private partnerships (e.g., a 10 MW solar energy joint venture with the City of Bowling Green). Tuition is set annually with a Falcon Tuition Guarantee for pricing predictability. Go-to-market is sales-led: regional admissions counselors, campus visits, high school partnerships, and direct enrollment pipelines target prospective undergraduates and graduate students across Ohio and nationally. Strategic positioning emphasizes student experience (Wall Street Journal No. 1 public in Ohio for student experience, top 5 nationally), healthcare workforce development (athletic training, physical therapy, occupational therapy), and career readiness, including a customizable AI + X bachelor's degree launched in 2025.

Name

Bowling Green State University

Legal name

Bowling Green State University

Website

https://bgsu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1910

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Bowling Green State University is a public Ohio research university offering undergraduate, graduate, and online programs across seven colleges, with a nationally unique Life Design career-readiness program and a regional campus in Huron.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate academic programs
• Online education programs
• Public university research

Headquarters

HQ city

Bowling Green

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, along with fees for various programs and services including online programs
2. State Funding: Public university funding from the State of Ohio as part of Ohio's public university system
3. Research Grants: External funding from federal, state, and private sources for research activities
4. Private Partnerships: Revenue through public-private partnerships including solar energy projects and corporate collaborations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bowling Green State University is a public university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and fully online degree programs across multiple colleges, anchored by the Life Design program and the Falcon Professional Network. It supplements academic instruction with student support services, career readiness resources, and research infrastructure including the Engineering and Innovation Center. The university also operates a regional campus (BGSU Firelands) and an online learning platform (BGSU Online).

Product overview

Bowling Green State University is a comprehensive public university offering undergraduate, graduate, and fully online programs across multiple colleges including Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Health and Human Services, Honors, and Musical Arts. The university's distinctive offerings include the Life Design program — a nationally unique career and life planning approach — paired with the Falcon Professional Network for alumni mentorship. Student support services include the Counseling Center, Falcon Health Center, Learning Commons with tutoring and FLY program for learning differences, and the Kuhlin Career Hub. The university operates BGSU Firelands as a branch campus and offers online education through BGSU Online. Campus facilities include the Engineering and Innovation Center with advanced labs (robotics, AI/AR, semiconductor fabrication, 3D metal printing), Student Recreation Center with fitness and wellness programs, and the Hooker Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Undergraduate academic programs delivered across multiple colleges to prospective and current students, including the nation's first customizable AI + X bachelor's degree that combines AI with any field of study.
• Graduate Degree Programs Graduate academic programs including master's and doctoral degrees, with notable offerings in athletic training, physical therapy, and occupational therapy that address regional healthcare workforce needs.
• Life Design Program A nationally unique higher education framework that integrates career planning, well-being, professional networking, and life design to help students shape their college experience and beyond. Offered to all BGSU students.
• Falcon Professional Network A network-for-Falcons-by-Falcons professional platform that connects current BGSU students with alumni for career mentorship and opportunities.
• BGSU Online Fully online degree programs and courses offered by the university for remote and non-traditional students.
• BGSU Firelands Regional campus in Huron, Ohio offering undergraduate and graduate programs to students in the Lake Erie region.
• Engineering and Innovation Center State-of-the-art academic facility housing advanced specialty labs in robotics, mixed-reality AI/AR tools, semiconductor fabrication training, and 3D metal printing that support engineering and innovation instruction.
• Kuhlin Career Hub Career readiness center helping students design their career path, find internships, and prepare for post-graduation employment.
• Falcon Health Center Student health center providing medical services to BGSU students, operated in partnership with Wood County Hospital.
• Counseling Center Short-term, goal-oriented mental health services for students, including individual and group counseling, crisis support, and Same Day Consultation services.
• Learning Commons Tutoring and academic support services for students, including the FLY program that supports students with learning differences.
• Student Recreation Center On-campus recreation facility featuring pools, a hot tub, climbing wall, martial arts studio, well-being room, multi-activity courts, and fitness programs including group exercise and personal training.
• Hooker Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Entrepreneurship center that supports student ventures and develops business skills among BGSU students.
• Falcon Food Pantry Food assistance program addressing food insecurity among BGSU students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 5 in the nation, best in Ohio, students say they'd choose again for sixth consecutive year (Wall Street Journal)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of Bowling GreencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2026Joint solar energy project on 82 acres of university land near Wood County Regional Airport. 10-megawatt solar array targeted for June 2027 completion, projected to power 2,000 households at 5-7 cents per kilowatt hour. City will purchase all power to replace capacity from retired JV6 wind turbine project.
• Principle Business EnterprisesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 202620-acre solar field lease on university land with all power purchased by the city. Part of broader solar energy initiative.
• Lake Erie CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026Exercise science partnership allowing Lake Erie College students to continue graduate studies at BGSU in athletic training, physical therapy, and occupational therapy programs. Collaboration aims to align undergraduate preparation with graduate-level expectations and strengthen Ohio's healthcare workforce.
• National Veterans Leadership FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Partnership selecting BGSU students for distinguished fellowship program supporting veteran leadership development.
• NFL Chicago BearsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSport management program partnership providing students experiential learning opportunities with NFL franchise.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• University of Toledo: Ohio public research university of comparable size and regional positioning; directly competes with BGSU for Ohio undergraduate enrollment, tuition tier, and similarly offers online programs.
• Kent State University: Ohio public university with similar scale, regional recruitment footprint, and a mix of regional campuses; competes directly with BGSU in Ohio and Northeast US undergraduate markets.
• Ohio University: Ohio public comprehensive university with regional campuses and online programs; directly comparable tier, student experience positioning, and graduate program mix to BGSU.
• Wright State University: Ohio public university serving similar Dayton-region commuter and traditional students; comparable scale, program portfolio, and Ohio public funding model.
• University of Akron: Ohio public university with comparable enrollment size, regional footprint, and mix of online and on-campus programs; overlaps with BGSU in price-sensitive Ohio undergraduate market.
• Miami University (Ohio): Ohio public university with strong student-experience reputation and similar undergraduate focus; competes with BGSU for in-state and out-of-state residential students.
• Ball State University: Midwest regional public university with comparable size, R2 research classification, and online program portfolio; similar student-experience focus and tier-one Carnegie engagement positioning.
• Central Michigan University: Midwest regional public university overlapping with BGSU in scale, online enrollment, and graduate healthcare programs; competes for regional and non-traditional student segments.
• Northern Illinois University: Midwest regional public university of similar scale and Carnegie classification; competes for the regional commuter/online student base that overlaps with BGSU's Midwest recruiting footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Ohio State University: Ohio's flagship public research university; broader portfolio at much larger scale sets the competitive ceiling in-state and shapes online/STEM market expectations relative to BGSU.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bgsu
• Facebookfacebook.com/26573965003
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bowling-green-state-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bowling Green State University