About BGSU

A Public University for the Public Good

For more than 111 years, Bowling Green State University has been a public university for the public good, always moving forward. Founded by the state, for the state, as a teacher-training institution, the University's history is defined by an educational pursuit for more. Today, BGSU is a high-research, nationally ranked, comprehensive university, always proud to be public.

FOUNDED

1910

CAMPUS

Situated on two campuses totaling 1,132 acres and 107 buildings, BGSU offers more than 200 undergraduate majors and programs, as well as graduate and online programs.

As a public institution, it is our obligation to cultivate good through public education. BGSU is committed to redefining student success and elevating our commitment to research, creative activities, partnerships and external engagement. To accomplish these objectives, we must be efficient and effective and, above all, it is our people – our students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, parents, families and community members – that power our University and help us achieve excellence.

Two students with professor in photochemistry lab

A National Leader in Partnerships

BGSU is developing unique public-private and public-public partnerships and new, relevant and meaningful academic programs to prepare students for success and to help meet the workforce needs of Ohio and beyond. Partnerships include

  • The Center for Justice Research, in collaboration with the Ohio Attorney General
  • The Center to Advanced Manufacturing, in collaboration with Owens Community College and the University of Findlay
  • Cedar Fair Resort and Attraction Management program
  • Public health partnership with the Wood County Health Department

Groundbreaking, Relevant Research

As an anchor institution of the region and ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a tier-one public university, BGSU focuses research, scholarship and creative activities to support the vitality of our communities and is awarded more than $20 million in research grants annually. Faculty research and creative activities inform public debate and addresses significant issues facing society, driving groundbreaking discoveries across a wide spectrum of disciplines, including

  • The Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health
  • The Center for Photochemical Sciences
  • National Center for Marriage and Family Research
  • Center for the Future of Forensic Science
Two students celebrate during Black Graduation

Faculty and Staff

In 2021, Forbes ranked BGSU as the No. 3 midsize employer in the United States, highlighting the University's commitment to faculty and staff. As the largest employer in Wood County, BGSU employees provide an education of value and stewardship of the institution's mission to create good. Serving as the core of the University's academic community, more than 800 full-time faculty members are engaged in teaching, research and creative activities.

 Student celebrates Latinx culture

Be the Good

BGSU creates public good by continuously innovating and fostering a culture of belonging and care to serve our students and our communities, today and tomorrow. As a public university for the public good, our bedrock commitment to diversity and belonging requires mutual respect, understanding and valuing individuals to facilitate a more diverse and inclusive environment so all can belong.

Falcons for Life

Our Falcon alumni network is comprised of leaders, innovators, problem-solvers and problem-finders who are making an impact in their communities. Notable BGSU alumni include NASA researcher Carl Sandifer, Abbott COVID test contributor Tao Xin, NHL sportscaster Everett Fitzhugh, Pultizer Prize-winning author Anthony Doerr and Academy Award-winning actress Eva Marie Saint.

Two students pose together for a senior photo

Redefining Student Success

Home to more than 19,600 students, BGSU is committed to redefining student success and providing an educational experience that meets students where they are. Students want more than a degree and we believe it is our shared responsibility to ensure our students are successful in college, and are also prepared for a career and life. As the only university in the nation offering Life Design on a broad scale, BGSU offers an innovative approach to education that supports students to lead meaningful and productive lives. In that way, we drive public good through our graduates who make a difference in their families, communities and professions.  

Life Design

Sunset along Wooster Street

One of America's Best College Towns

Time and again, Falcons say BGSU "feels like home," and we're proud of that. Located in Bowling Green, Ohio, ranked one of America's Best College Towns by WalletHub — home to local bookstores, coffee shops, restaurants, record stores and shops. The city of Bowling Green features bike trails, parks, nature preserves, sledding hills and a weekly farmer's market, just steps away from campus, while being conveniently located 30 miles from Toledo, Ohio, and close to Cleveland, Columbus, Ohio, and Detroit, Michigan.

BG Philharmonia performing at Kobacker Hall

Enriching Our Region and Beyond

Through our programs in the arts and Division I Athletics, BGSU is a major contributor to the social and cultural vitality of northwest Ohio and beyond. The University hosts more than 440 arts and cultural events per year, and our 18 athletic teams compete at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics.

Where Will Your Journey at BGSU Take You?

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Updated: 09/28/2023 09:24AM