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Cleveland State University

Public Graduate Good 67/100

Cleveland State University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Cleveland, Ohio

About Cleveland State University

Cleveland State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Cleveland, Ohio. It enrolls 8,969 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: csuohio.edu

Acceptance: 91.3%
Graduation: 48.9%
Net Price: $14,764
Median Earnings (10yr): $52,131
Enrollment: 8,969
Student : Faculty: 16:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

67/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 30

Value 75

Affordability 73

Selectivity 30

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 91.3%, Cleveland State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

91.3%

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Cleveland State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↑ 1.5 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Cleveland State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,764 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$14,764

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

41%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

74%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $12,988
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $18,510
Room & Board (on-campus): $15,104
Room & Board (off-campus): $15,090
Books & Supplies: $1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus): $3,700
Other Expenses (off-campus): $3,700
Total Cost of Attendance: $27,159

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$11,958
$30,001 – $48,000

$13,561
$48,001 – $75,000

$14,727
$75,001 – $110,000

$15,690
Over $110,000

$20,378

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,343

10% percentile

$6,000

25% percentile

$21,797

Median percentile

$26,000

75% percentile

$38,250

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $18,000 ↓ $3,797

No Pell $12,500 ↓ $9,297

Dependent students $14,297 ↓ $7,500

Independent students $19,557 ↓ $2,240

Female students $15,883 ↓ $5,914

Male students $15,000 ↓ $6,797

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,305, less than completers ($21,797), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

49% of full-time students who enrolled at Cleveland State University graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

49%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

70%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Cleveland State University earn a median of $52,131 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$52,131

Earning > $25K

78%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$42,000

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$52,000

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$43,300

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$47,800

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$50,700

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $10,000, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 17.2 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 74% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Cleveland State University is home to 8,969 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

8,969

Part-Time

17%

First-Generation

38%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 55.9% 5,013

Black 17.7% 1,590

Hispanic 9.5% 849

International 6.0% 539

Other 4.9% 442

Asian 4.0% 362

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Cleveland State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large City Cleveland, Ohio

Housing

Partly residential 2,202 beds available

Adult Learners

19% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Cleveland State University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 128 distinct programs across 25 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

15 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Marketing $69K ($50K–$93K)

17 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Clinical/Medical Laboratory $76K ($61K–$92K)
Rehabilitation $56K ($40K–$74K)

5 Programs

Computer Science

Information Science $85K ($60K–$117K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)

13 Programs

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Civil Engineering $87K ($74K–$101K)
Electrical Engineering $101K ($85K–$122K)

6 Programs

Public Administration

Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Public Administration $65K ($47K–$87K)

3 Programs

Legal Studies

Law $143K ($74K–$297K)
Legal Research $63K ($47K–$84K)
Legal Research $63K ($47K–$84K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Cleveland State University is 16:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

16:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$18,270

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$107M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$91,685

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

544 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	138	25%	$114,959
Associate Professors	176	32%	$95,022
Assistant Professors	122	22%	$82,823
Lecturers	103	19%	$67,368
No Rank	5	1%	$49,033

Pros & Cons of Cleveland State University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Cleveland State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid

CONS

Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Most students take on federal loans

Best for: Based on the data, Cleveland State University is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cleveland State University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Cleveland State University.

Is Cleveland State University hard to get into?

Cleveland State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 91.3%.

What is the acceptance rate at Cleveland State University?

Cleveland State University has an acceptance rate of 91.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does Cleveland State University cost?

The average net price after aid at Cleveland State University is $14,764 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Cleveland State University worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $52,131 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,764 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Cleveland State University known for?

Cleveland State University is best known for its programs in Information Science, Nursing, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Cleveland State University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Cleveland State University are $52,131, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Cleveland State University accredited?

Yes. Cleveland State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Cleveland State University?

Cleveland State University enrolls 8,969 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Cleveland State University?

Cleveland State University graduates 49% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Cleveland State University a public or private college?

Cleveland State University is a Public institution.

Where is Cleveland State University located?

Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, Ohio.

What programs does Cleveland State University offer?

Cleveland State University offers 128 distinct programs. The most popular include Information Science, Nursing, Psychology.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Cleveland State University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Cleveland State University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.