Six years in a row: BGSU ranks No. 1 in Ohio, among the top 5 in the nation students say they would choose again, according to The Wall Street Journal

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – For the sixth year in a row, Bowling Green State University has been ranked by The Wall Street Journal among the top five universities in the nation, as recommended by students.

In its 2026 Best Colleges rankings, The Wall Street Journal asked hundreds of thousands of college students and alumni from universities across the nation “Would you choose your university again?” and BGSU received a resounding “yes,” placing in the top five in the nation and No. 3 among all public universities for its student-recommendation score, highlighting the University’s nationally recognized undergraduate student experience.

In the new rankings, BGSU is also the No. 1 university in Ohio that students say they’d choose again. Additionally, BGSU is ranked No. 1 for career preparation, learning facilities and learning opportunities, respectively, among Ohio’s public universities.

“There are all sorts of rankings that measure a variety of datasets for universities and colleges, but being top-rated by the students who have actually experienced what we have to offer is the ultimate five-star review,” BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers said. “Knowing our students would choose Bowling Green again is the ranking that means the most in measuring the quality of our student experience and learning opportunities, and we are so grateful to again be ranked among the very best in the nation, and No. 1 among all of the universities and colleges in Ohio.”

The rankings reaffirm that BGSU – which set enrollment records for the second consecutive year in 2025 – is home to one of the top higher education experiences anywhere in the United States. 

The Wall Street Journal’s methodology for ranking the student experience considers several factors, including surveys that measure students’ satisfaction with overall well-being, a sense of community and safety, campus facilities and the chance to interact with others in the learning community from different backgrounds.

The rankings also underscore the University’s commitment to helping students succeed with in-demand degree programs and comprehensive learning environments that place outsized value on real-world experiences. 

BGSU recently became the first university in the nation to launch a customizable AI+X bachelor’s degree, building on its legacy of innovation in developing in-demand academic programs. The uniquely designed undergraduate degree addresses the growing demand for professionals who can use AI principles and technology to solve complex, interdisciplinary challenges.

Further emphasizing its commitment to career preparation, BGSU was recently selected as one of only eight universities nationwide, and the only one in the Midwest, to join the first-ever National Work-Integrated Learning Accelerator, a bold initiative designed to bridge the gap between education and workforce readiness by connecting students to industry through real-world projects and simulations.

The innovative BGSU Life Design program empowers students to shape their own academic journey, while the University continues to make significant investments in programs that address workforce needs.

Earlier in 2025, BGSU renamed the College of Engineering and Innovation, which is home to two dozen degree programs that launch students into in-demand careers in aviation, engineering, architecture and construction management.

Also in 2025, BGSU set a new enrollment record for the second consecutive year with its largest-ever freshman class.

With more than 4,000 new students for the first time in University history, first-year enrollment is up 36% across the past four years. Additionally, the class of 2029 is the highest-achieving in BGSU history, entering its first year on campus with an average ACT score of 25 and a cumulative grade-point average of 3.74.

BGSU also saw a 17% increase in the number of transfer students enrolling at the University this fall, largely due to an increase in pathway programs created through meaningful partnerships throughout Ohio and across the region.