AQ vs. Cleveland State

Should I go to Aquinas College or Cleveland State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AQ or Cleveland State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Aquinas College vs. Cleveland State University comparison
Aquinas College Cleveland State University College 3 College 4
Aquinas College Cleveland State University
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Overview

 AQ Cleveland State
Location Grand Rapids, MI Cleveland, OH
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 1,265 14,385
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #819 #769
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website aquinas.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 AQ Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $36,480 $12,144
Tuition (Out of State) $36,480 $17,359
Room & Board $10,572 $14,197
Avg Net Price $18,605 $15,719
Avg Grant Aid $30,049 $9,436
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 91%

Admission

 AQ Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,116 11,570
Admitted 1,921 9,872
Acceptance Rate 90.8% 85.3%
Enrolled % 16% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25
SAT Range 1000/1180 880/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 AQ Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 AQ Cleveland State
Graduation Rate 52% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,000 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $222

Diversity

 AQ Cleveland State
% Men 43% 46%
% Women 57% 54%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 82% 64%
% Black 3% 17%
% Hispanic 6% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 AQ Cleveland State
% In-State 84% 85%
% Out-of-State 13% 7%

Campus

 AQ Cleveland State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than AQ based on total student enrollment (14,385 students vs. 1,265 students)

AQ vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or Cleveland State?

  • Aquinas College is 200.4% more expensive to attend than Cleveland State for in-state tuition ($36,480.00 vs. $12,144.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 110.2% higher at AQ than Cleveland State University ($36,480.00 vs. $17,359.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cleveland State University than AQ ($15,719 vs. $18,605)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 34.3% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($10,572 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Aquinas College than Cleveland State University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 218.5% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($30,049 vs. $9,436)

AQ vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AQ or Cleveland State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cleveland State or AQ .

  • The average SAT score at Aquinas College (1090) is 62 points higher than at Cleveland State (1028)
  • Incoming AQ students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Cleveland State (22)
  • Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • AQ has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than Cleveland State (85.3%)

AQ vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AQ or Cleveland State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Cleveland State and AQ.

  • The graduation rate at AQ is higher than Cleveland State University (52% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $4,200 more per year than AQ graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $40,000)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than AQ graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than AQ graduates. ($222 vs. $268)
  • More AQ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/