Bowie State University is the oldest historically black institution of higher education in Maryland. It was established in 1865 in Baltimore as a school for freed slaves. In 1867 it became Baltimore Normal School for the education of colored teachers. It relocated in 1911 to Prince George’s County and was renamed Maryland Normal and Industrial School at Bowie. In 1935 it expanded to a four-year program as Maryland Teachers College at Bowie. Liberal arts were added in 1963, and it became Bowie State College. In 1988 it joined the University System of Maryland as Bowie State University.
