Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University is a public university in Cleveland, OH ranked #1105 nationally by EDsmart, earning an overall grade of B-, enrolling about 9,077 undergraduates, and with an acceptance rate near 95.5%. Students most often pursue Computer and Information Sciences and Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Day to day, students benefit from a 16:1 student-faculty ratio, 69.1% first-year retention, and 48.9% six-year graduation. Coaches and faculty advisors weave in frequent check-ins, helping students translate ambition into steady progress.
Families typically invest $16,065, about $933 less than the national median. EDsmart calculates return on investment at -30.6%, roughly 115.9 points below typical outcomes. Six years after enrolling, alumni report median earnings of $44,625. That's about $937 higher than national results. It's well-suited to students who appreciate an encouraging campus with room to explore.
Who is Cleveland State University Best For?
A quick look at who tends to feel most at home here based on outcomes and campus context.
EDsmart Scores Summary
Cleveland State University graduates 48.9% of students within six years and keeps 69.1% of first-year students. Affordability earns a B+ compared with similar schools.
How we calculate this →Cost & Financial Aid
Quick Answers
The costs shown are averages. Use Cleveland State University's net price calculator to get an estimate based on your family's financial situation.
Calculate Your Net Price →Total Degree Cost Summary
Annual Cost Comparison
Cost of Undergraduate Attendance
Costs based on full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates.
View cost of attendance line items
| Costs to Consider | Price |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $12,613 |
| Books and Supplies | $900 |
| On-Campus Room and Board | $14,760 |
| On-Campus Other Expenses | $3,770 |
| Total On-Campus Cost | $26,310 |
Tip: focus on the rows that match your living plan—commuters can swap in off-campus estimates while residential students should budget for housing, meals, and incidental fees.
Students Receiving Aid
Use these bars to gauge how many classmates rely on need-based dollars—lower Pell or loan shares may signal a wealthier student body or generous institutional grants.
EDsmart Insight: About 39.0% of Cleveland State University students receive Pell Grants — in line with the national average, highlighting ongoing affordability priorities.
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual net price after financial aid, based on family income. Your actual cost may vary depending on your specific financial situation.
Understanding These Numbers: Net price varies significantly by income level. Net prices range from $13,058 to $22,320 depending on family income. Use Cleveland State University's net price calculator for a personalized estimate.
If your family earns $75K-$110K: Expect to pay around $19,512/year
If your family earns $110K+: Expect to pay around $22,320/year
See all income brackets →ROI & Career Outcomes
- 6-Year Median Earnings $44,625
- 10-Year Median Earnings $44,625
- Average Years to Graduate 4.5 years
- Average Student Debt $15,333
- Repayment Rate (3yr) 47.5%
- Employment Rate 87.7%
Graduate Earnings Distribution
Earnings range for Cleveland State University graduates 6 years after enrollment, showing the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile. This illustrates the variation in outcomes across different majors and career paths.
Cleveland State University vs. National Average
Comparison of key performance metrics showing how Cleveland State University's outcomes compare to the national average across earnings, graduation rates, retention, ROI, and employment. This contextualizes Cleveland State University's performance within the broader higher education landscape.
EDsmart Insight: While Cleveland State University graduates earn $44,625 median, the -30.6% ROI suggests the investment may take longer to pay off. Consider your major choice and career goals when evaluating value.
Acceptance & Selectivity
Getting In
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading Not reported
- SAT Math Not reported
- SAT Writing Not reported
- ACT Composite 17-25
- SAT & ACT Required
- Undergraduate Enrollment 9,077
- Full-Time Students 95.0%
- Part-Time Students 5.0%
- Retention Rate 69.1%
- Graduation Rate 48.9%
- Student-Faculty Ratio 16:1
How to Get Into Cleveland State University
1. Meet Academic Requirements: Cleveland State University requires strong academic performance. Aim for test scores within the reported ranges and maintain a competitive GPA. Most admitted students rank in the top 10% of their high school class.
2. Build a Strong Application: Beyond test scores, focus on crafting compelling essays, securing strong letters of recommendation, and highlighting extracurricular activities that demonstrate leadership and commitment.
3. Understand Selectivity: With an acceptance rate of 95.5%, Cleveland State University is relatively open. Consider applying early decision if available, as early applicants often have higher acceptance rates.
4. Financial Planning: Review the net price calculator and financial aid options early. Many students receive significant aid, making the actual cost lower than the sticker price.
Tip: Contact the admissions office directly for the most current application requirements, deadlines, and any special programs (like early decision or early action) that might improve your chances.
EDsmart Insight: With a 95.5% acceptance rate, Cleveland State University is more accessible than highly selective schools. Meeting the test score ranges and maintaining a solid GPA significantly improves admission chances.
Academic Programs
Undergraduate Program Distribution
Breakdown of the most popular majors and fields of study among Cleveland State University undergraduates. Psychology, General, Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research & Clinical Nursing, and Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and A draw the most students.
- Psychology, General 8.3%
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research & Clinical Nursing 8.2%
- Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and A 6.4%
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communi 4.5%
- Mechanical Engineering 4.4%
- Biology, General 3.3%
See more majors
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods 3.1%
- Accounting and Related Services 3.1%
Highest Earning Programs
Median earnings five years after graduation for each program. These figures help illustrate ROI by field of study and degree level.
Undergraduate Programs (Bachelor's Degrees)
- 1. Computer and Information Sciences, General $100,089
- 2. Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering $94,009
- 3. Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions $90,920
Show additional high-earning majors
- 4. Management Information Systems and Services $85,186
- 5. Chemical Engineering $84,127
- 6. Mechanical Engineering $83,818
- 7. Computer Engineering $78,588
- 8. Finance and Financial Management Services $76,073
- 9. Accounting and Related Services $75,073
- 10. Civil Engineering $72,837
Graduate Programs (Master's, Doctoral, Professional)
- 1. Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Master's Degree) $114,635
- 2. Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degree) $100,907
- 3. Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degree) $90,235
Show additional graduate majors
- 4. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research & Clinical Nursing (Master's Degree) $89,582
- 5. Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degree) $87,034
- 6. Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Master's Degree) $86,410
- 7. Law (First Professional Degree) $85,742
- 8. Education, Other (Graduate/Professional Certificate) $83,860
- 9. Education, General (Doctoral Degree) $83,310
- 10. Community Organization and Advocacy (Master's Degree) $83,181
Program Choice Matters: Undergraduate: Computer and Information Sciences, General grads earn $100,089—37% more than Civil Engineering ($72,837). Graduate: Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other programs lead with $114,635 median earnings. Your program and degree level choice significantly impact career earnings.
Online Degrees & Distance Learning
College Scorecard reports fully online programs for Cleveland State University. Below are the most popular options based on the number of recent graduates, followed by a quick look at the breadth of online offerings by degree level.
Source: U.S. Department of Education – College Scorecard
Most Popular Online Degrees
- Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degree, 221 graduates)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degree, 219 graduates)
- Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Bachelor's Degree, 169 graduates)
- Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degree, 118 graduates)
- Law (First Professional Degree, 97 graduates)
What This School Offers Online, at a Glance
College Scorecard flags the following online degree and certificate programs for this institution. Expand each credential level to view the complete list of available subjects.
Online Bachelor's Degrees (64 programs)â–¼
- Psychology, General
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
- Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
- Mechanical Engineering
- Biology, General
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
- Accounting and Related Services
- Finance and Financial Management Services
- Marketing
- Criminology
- Human Resources Management and Services
- Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
- Urban Studies/Affairs
- Chemical Engineering
- Computer Science
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
- Political Science and Government
- Information Science/Studies
- English Language and Literature, General
- Civil Engineering
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts
- History
- Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research
- Economics
- Sociology
- Mathematics
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
- Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians
- Computer Engineering
- Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
- Music
- Chemistry
- Educational Administration and Supervision
- Social Sciences, General
- Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
- International Relations and National Security Studies
- Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
- International Business
- Public Administration
- Fine and Studio Arts
- Anthropology
- Business/Managerial Economics
- Design and Applied Arts
- Physics
- Health and Physical Education/Fitness
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
- Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
- Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
- Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
- Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician
- Philosophy
- Religion/Religious Studies
- Computer and Information Sciences, General
- Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Dance
- Special Education and Teaching
- Social Sciences, Other
- Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
- Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
- Community Organization and Advocacy
Online Master's Degrees (50 programs)â–¼
- Student Counseling and Personnel Services
- Educational Administration and Supervision
- Information Science/Studies
- Accounting and Related Services
- Special Education and Teaching
- Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
- Computer and Information Sciences, General
- Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
- Mechanical Engineering
- Health and Physical Education/Fitness
- Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
- Public Administration
- Public Health
- Psychology, General
- Community Organization and Advocacy
- Human Resources Management and Services
- Civil Engineering
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research
- Chemical Engineering
- Music
- Chemistry
- Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
- History
- Applied Mathematics
- Mathematics
- Computer Engineering
- Biomedical/Medical Engineering
- Human Services, General
- Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
- Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
- Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
- Economics
- Museology/Museum Studies
- English Language and Literature, General
- Communication and Media Studies
- Biology, General
- Urban Studies/Affairs
- Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
- Philosophy
- International Relations and National Security Studies
- Fine and Studio Arts
- Sociology
- Physics
- Engineering Mechanics
- Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
- Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
- Computer Science
Online Doctoral Degrees (6 programs)â–¼
- Education, General
- Engineering, General
- Chemistry
- Biology, General
- Urban Studies/Affairs
- Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
Online Graduate/Professional Certificates (3 programs)â–¼
- Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
- Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
- Educational Administration and Supervision
Online First Professional Degrees (2 programs)â–¼
- Law
- Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
Student Demographics
Student Population
- Total Undergraduate Enrollment 9,077
- Full-Time Students 95.0%
- Part-Time Students 5.0%
- Male Students 46.7%
- Female Students 53.3%
- Caucasian 57.8%
- Asian 4.0%
- Hispanic 9.1%
- Black 16.4%
- Pell Grant Recipients 39.0%
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
Undergraduate student body composition by racial and ethnic background. This reflects Cleveland State University's commitment to diversity and inclusion in admissions.
Gender Distribution
Gender breakdown of Cleveland State University's undergraduate population. The university maintains a roughly balanced gender distribution across its student body.
Graduation Rate Equity Analysis
How well does Cleveland State University support students from different economic backgrounds?
What this means: Lower-income students (Pell Grant recipients) graduate at a different rate as higher-income students, indicating varying levels of institutional support for all economic backgrounds.
Compare graduation rates by race/ethnicity
Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity
Six-year graduation rates for different demographic groups at Cleveland State University, compared to national averages. This shows whether the institution supports all students equitably.
Graduation Rate Equity Analysis
How well does Cleveland State University support students from different economic backgrounds?
What this means: Lower-income students (Pell Grant recipients) graduate at a different rate as higher-income students, indicating varying levels of institutional support for all economic backgrounds.
Compare graduation rates by race/ethnicity
Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity
Six-year graduation rates for different demographic groups at Cleveland State University, compared to national averages. This shows whether the institution supports all students equitably.
Our Take
Cleveland State University serves as an affordable university for students seeking quality education without elite university costs. Ranked #1105 nationally with ROI data not available, the institution balances practical outcomes with budget-friendly pricing.
At $16,065 annually, students gain access to career-focused programs leading to $44,625 median earnings. The 48.9% six-year graduation rate reflects reasonable completion metrics for a university. While 69.1% retention suggests adequate student support.
University Value: Cleveland State University's Strengths
Ranked #1105 with a B- grade, Cleveland State University prioritizes accessibility and local career connections over national prestige.
Primary Strengths: Universitys like Cleveland State University excel at providing affordable education ($16,065 annually) with strong local employer relationships. Many programs emphasize practical skills and internships within the regional economy.
Best For: Students planning to work in the region after graduation benefit from established employer connections. Adult learners and part-time students appreciate flexible scheduling. First-generation students and budget-conscious families gain degrees without overwhelming debt.
Honest Assessment: Cleveland State University's 69.1% retention and 48.9% six-year graduation rate trail elite universities but align with typical university performance. Career outcomes ($44,625 median earnings) reflect regional job markets more than national opportunities.
Value Verdict: For students committed to regional careers, Cleveland State University and $16,065 cost deliver solid value. Those seeking national job mobility or prestigious credentials should compare against flagship state universities or targeted private scholarships.
Key Takeaways
- 48.9% six-year graduation rate sits 13.6 points below the national 62.5% benchmark.
- 69.1% first-year retention is 7.7 points below the national norm of 76.8%.
- -30.6% return on investment is 115.9 points below the national 85.3% benchmark.
- Median earnings of $44,625 run about 2% higher than national outcomes six years after enrollment.
- Average net price of $16,065 is roughly $3,834 lower than the national median of $19,899.
Helpfulness for Students
- 16:1 student-faculty ratio keeps mentorship close and courses discussion-sized.
- 69.1% first-year retention shows students stay engaged after the first year.
- 87.7% employment rate within three years sits 19.5 points above national outcomes.
- Budget carefully for clinical travel, off-campus housing, and practicum fees to avoid surprise costs.
- Compare aid offers from nearby public universities to weigh the premium for smaller classes.
- Compare aid offers from nearby public universities to weigh the premium for smaller classes.
EDsmart Expert Analysis
Cleveland State University is a public university based in Cleveland, OH and earns a B- overall grade. It is currently ranked #1105 nationally Completion earns B-, Support C+, Career Outcomes B, and Affordability B+.
Grades are assigned relative to EDsmart's national bachelor's cohort using standardized outcomes (2026 methodology); they reflect how a school compares to peers, not a fixed percentage of a raw point total.
69.1% of learners come back after year one while 48.9% complete the degree within six years. Return on investment currently measures -30.6% for this program.
Why it matters: this snapshot shows how likely you are to stay on track academically and whether the outcomes justify the price tag. Letter grades summarize cohort-relative performance—not a single exam-style score.
EDsmart Financial Snapshot
Families pay about $16,065 on average after aid, compared with a published cost near $26,310.
Institutional and federal aid lower costs by roughly $10,245 per year.
Graduates leave with a median of $15,333 in federal loans, which lines up with national norms.
About 39.0% of students receive Pell Grants, giving a snapshot of the campus income mix.
Why it matters: lining up sticker price, aid, and typical debt helps you stress-test the budget before you commit.
EDsmart Career Snapshot
Six years in, alumni earn roughly $44,625 at the median. This is roughly 2% above typical U.S. college outcomes.
The three-year employment rate is close to 87.7%.
Plan around an ROI of about -30.6% according to the Scorecard data.
Why it matters: pairing median earnings with employment rates gives you a sense of payback time after graduation.
EDsmart Admissions Snapshot
95.5% of applicants receive offers, so preparation and fit matter.
The admissions team encourages students to highlight academic strengths through transcripts, essays, and recommendations.
Prospective students can apply early for priority review and lean on the Cleveland State University admissions site for deadlines, visit options, and counselor contacts.
Why it matters: knowing the admit rate and application expectations lets you map out testing, essays, and deadlines with less stress.
Your Decision Toolkit
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Contact Information
- Address Cleveland, OH 44115-2214
- Website www.csuohio.edu
- Net Price Calculator Calculate Your Cost
- Financial AidView Financial Aid Information
- AccreditationHigher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
- Endowment$98.2M
- Transfer Enrollment Rate30.9%