Bowie State University welcomes visitors to its campus. The University is located in Bowie, MD, just east of Washington, DC, and south of Baltimore, MD. The closest airport is Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The campus has a train stop on the Maryland Commuter Rail (MARC) Penn Line that runs between Baltimore's Penn Station and Washington's Union Station. Bowie State also is a stop on three Metrobus lines operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority: B21, B22, and B27. These bus lines connect the University with the New Carrollton station of the Washington, DC, Metro subway system.

Driving Directions

From the north (Baltimore):

  1. Take I-295 S towards Washington, DC
  2. Take exit number 11, MD 197 towards Laurel/Bowie
  3. Turn left off the exit onto MD 197 S (Laurel Bowie Road)
  4. Go five miles
  5. Turn left at traffic light at Jericho Park Road into Bowie State University

From the south (Richmond):

  1. Take I-95 N
  2. Take exit I-495 N towards Baltimore
  3. Take exit 19A, US 50 E toward Annapolis
  4. Take exit 11, MD 197 N towards Bowie
  5. Go five miles
  6. Turn right at traffic light at Jericho Park Road into Bowie State University

From Washington, DC:

  1. Take I-295 N
  2. Take exit number 11, US 50 E towards Annapolis
  3. Take exit 11, MD 197 N towards Bowie
  4. Go five miles
  5. Turn right at traffic light at Jericho Park Road into Bowie State University

From the east (Annapolis):

  1. Take US 50 W towards I-97/Washington/Baltimore
  2. Take exit 11, MD 197 N/Collington Road towards Bowie
  3. Go five miles
  4. Turn right at traffic light at Jericho Park Road into Bowie State University

Campus Map

Click here for a map of the campus.

Campus Tours

One of the best ways to familiarize yourself with Bowie State University is to visit our campus.

Your visit entails an hour long guided campus tour, with the option of an information session, if staff is available. The tour is guided by one of our trained student ambassadors and is designed to inform you of the rich history, academic excellence and leadership offered at Bowie State University. Guided tours are offered, year-round, Monday through Friday.

Families are always welcome to take a self guided tour of the campus, if you are unable to fit a campus tour into your schedule. A campus map and brochure will be provided, by the Office of Admissions, for self-guided tours.

Schedule Now


Graduate Information Sessions

Please click here for upcoming Graduate Information Sessions.

Open Houses

Undergraduate Open House

What does Bowie State University have to offer a student like me? Learn about academic programs, research opportunities, support services, and student life at Bowie by attending our Open House Program. The Open House Program also offers valuable information on admissions, scholarship opportunities, and financial aid. Tours of the campus, as well as opportunities to meet with faculty advisors, staff, and students, are also available.

Make your reservation online

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at 301-860-3415 or 301-860-3392, (toll free 1-877-77BOWIE).

Undergraduate Open House Dates:

Transfer Information Session Dates:

Spring 2013

Graduate Open House Date:

Visitor Parking

A visitor may obtain a temporary parking permit from the Bowie State University Campus Police Department. The department's dispatch office is located in Charlotte Robinson Hall, a one-story brick building on the right as you drive straight into campus.

Henry Circle, straight ahead from the campus entrance, is for visitor parking only. Those who park on the circle must have a temporary permit. Other visitor parking is available in Parking Lot E. To reach Lot E, turn left onto the Loop Road at the campus entrance.

Visitor Permits

All department heads must ensure visitors to their departments are aware of the Bowie State University parking rules and regulations and that they either obtain temporary parking permits for their visitors or advise accordingly.

Faculty, staff, and students may not obtain a visitor's parking permit unless they have purchased their permit/hangtag and do not have the hangtag on their vehicle, or have forgotten to transfer the permit/hangtag to the vehicle they will park on campus.