US News & World Report ranks BGSU No. 1 public university in Ohio for first-year experiences

Bowling Green State University is once again earning top marks nationally for its approach to the student experience, providing students with the resources, connections and support they need to succeed from the moment they arrive on campus. 

U.S. News and World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings named Bowling Green the No. 1 public university in Ohio – and No. 3 in the Midwest – for first-year experiences, recognizing the University’s comprehensive efforts to support the transition to college while helping students build community, engage in campus life and define their path forward.

Bowling Green also climbed in the report’s overall rankings, finishing at No. 148 nationally among public universities, up 11 spots from last year. The University is in the top 17% of the more than 1,700 four-year colleges and universities included in the ranking.

Altogether, those efforts – largely shaped by Bowling Green’s innovative Career and Life Design program – are contributing to record enrollment, retention and graduation rates, building on consecutive years of momentum and bolstering the University’s reputation as a national leader in student success. 

“Bowling Green State University is proud to be a leader not only in the state, but the nation, for student experience, and this ranking reaffirms our commitment to each student, from day one through graduation,” said BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers. “Higher education has long known how a student goes to college matters. At Bowling Green, we leaned in, investing in programs that give students the tools, framework and support to fully leverage all their educational experience has to offer. We are so grateful more and more students are choosing Bowling Green, a university that provides all the opportunities of a large, comprehensive research university, but at a size that allows each student the chance to take advantage of it, with the personalized support you’d find at a private school.”

This fall, total enrollment rose by 2.1%, continuing four consecutive years of growth. The University also sustained record-high retention rates over the past three years.

The four-year graduation rate has increased 14% over the past five years, with more students than ever graduating in four years or less. 

Those outcomes are driven by a coordinated, comprehensive approach to student success that begins even before students arrive on campus.

The ranking from U.S. News and World Report follows BGSU’s recent selection as one of only three finalists – the only one in the Midwest – for the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ 2026 Excellence in Student Success Award, which recognizes universities for demonstrating a comprehensive, systemic commitment to advancing student success. 

For six years in a row, BGSU has been ranked among the top five universities in the nation and No. 1 in Ohio that students say they would choose again, further underscoring the University’s nationally recognized undergraduate experience.

In addition to being recognized for first-year experiences, Bowling Green's engineering and nursing programs also made notable gains in this year's U.S. News and World Report's rankings. 

BGSU undergraduate engineering programs climbed 17 spots in this year’s rankings to No. 82 nationally and No. 2 among public universities in Ohio without a doctoral program – reflecting the University’s commitment to investing in programs that align with workforce needs while also preparing students for careers in those high-growth fields.

The ranking also makes the programs the highest-ranked among public universities in northwest Ohio.

Bowling Green recently opened its state-of-the-art Engineering and Innovation Center, designed to replicate the engineering environments students will encounter in the workplace. The 24,000-square-foot addition includes specialty labs for training in semiconductors, robotics, advanced manufacturing, augmented reality and more.

The University's highly regarded nursing program, already one of the largest in northwest Ohio, also improved in this year’s national rankings, climbing 54 spots to No. 195. The program, which enrolled its first cohort in 2021, now stands at No. 4 among public universities in Ohio.

The nursing program’s fourth cohort, which graduated in December 2025, earned a 100% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), marking a significant milestone in the program’s early history and placing it among the top programs in Ohio.

The program’s success is further demonstrated by its consistent growth and the career success of its graduates. Nearly 100% of BGSU nursing students are employed at graduation, with about three-fourths securing conditional job offers months before earning their degrees. 

During orientation, before students even begin classes, they learn about Career and Life Design and its expansive reach across the University. 

Students are then formally introduced to the program in a one-credit-hour class, with Career and Life Design also integrated into academic courses across disciplines. Through one-on-one coaching and career readiness support, students learn to connect their coursework, interests and professional aspirations with meaningful experiences that shape their college journey. 

For Josalynn Vazquez, Career and Life Design has had a profound impact.

“This program helped me become the person that I wanted to be,” Vazquez said. “I didn’t know how to talk to people. I wanted to be a part of something, but I didn’t know what. Now I’m a sorority president and can stand up in front of a group of people to speak on a regular basis. Freshman year me would not have been able to do that.

“I think having those conversations and using the design thinking process of accepting where I am and defining who I want to be genuinely got me to where I am today.” 

Through Career and Life Design, students learn how to overcome obstacles, reframe failures and pivot when needed, developing skills that can help them take full advantage of the college experience and stay on track when challenges arise.

Opportunities to get involved also begin early. Within the first few weeks of the semester, the University introduces students to hundreds of organizations during a campus-wide event, encouraging them to explore new interests, make connections and develop leadership skills.

Bowling Green hosts a career fair early in the fall semester, and first-year students enrolled in BGSU 1910 – the introductory career and life design class – are required to attend and talk with employers to help them build confidence and better understand employer expectations for future internships and jobs.

Students across all disciplines also have opportunities to conduct research alongside faculty mentors as early as their first year, preparing them for their careers and advanced study.

Support also extends to residence halls, where directors monitor key engagement metrics related to academics and health and well-being. Professional staff can identify and connect with students who need support across a range of areas, including academic advising, registration, co-curricular engagement and care and support, before challenges escalate.

Bowling Green takes a similar approach to academic performance. Its Early Alert program provides key academic checkpoints early in the semester, allowing faculty, advisors and other student support professionals to identify needs and intervene while there is still time to make a difference. 

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