AAC vs. Cleveland State

Should I go to Art Academy of Cincinnati or Cleveland State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AAC 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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Art Academy of Cincinnati vs. Cleveland State University comparison
Art Academy of Cincinnati Cleveland State University College 3 College 4
Art Academy of Cincinnati Cleveland State University
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Overview

 AAC Cleveland State
Location Cincinnati, OH Cleveland, OH
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 263 14,385
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #769
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website artacademy.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 AAC Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $35,404 $12,144
Tuition (Out of State) $35,404 $17,359
Room & Board $10,500 $14,197
Avg Net Price $27,510 $15,719
Avg Grant Aid $17,764 $9,436
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 91%

Admission

 AAC Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 426 11,570
Admitted 426 9,872
Acceptance Rate 100% 85.3%
Enrolled % 20.4% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.31
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25
SAT Range 880/1130
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 AAC Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 AAC Cleveland State
Graduation Rate 44% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $30,400 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $222

Diversity

 AAC Cleveland State
% Men 26% 46%
% Women 74% 54%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 79% 64%
% Black 10% 17%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 AAC Cleveland State
% In-State 64% 85%
% Out-of-State 35% 7%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than AAC based on total student enrollment (14,385 students vs. 263 students)

AAC vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AAC or Cleveland State?

  • Art Academy of Cincinnati is 191.5% more expensive to attend than Cleveland State for in-state tuition ($35,404.00 vs. $12,144.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 104% higher at AAC than Cleveland State University ($35,404.00 vs. $17,359.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cleveland State University than AAC ($15,719 vs. $27,510)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Academy of Cincinnati are 35.2% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($10,500 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Art Academy of Cincinnati than Cleveland State University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Art Academy of Cincinnati students is 88.3% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($17,764 vs. $9,436)

AAC vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Cleveland State University (1028) is 65 points higher than at AAC (963)
  • Incoming Cleveland State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at AAC (21)
  • Accepted freshman Cleveland State students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at AAC (3.1)
  • AAC has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Cleveland State (85.3%)

AAC vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AAC 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 AAC.

  • The graduation rate at AAC is higher than Cleveland State University (44% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $13,800 more per year than AAC graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $30,400)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than AAC graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than AAC graduates. ($222 vs. $279)
  • More AAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 47%)

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