Ashland College vs. Cleveland State

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

 Ashland College Cleveland State
Location Ashland, OH Cleveland, OH
Setting Town Fringe Large City
Enrollment 4,143 14,117
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #581 #780
Religious Affiliation Brethren Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ashland.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Ashland College Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $27,720 $12,503
Tuition (Out of State) $27,720 $17,863
Room & Board $11,960 $14,760
Avg Net Price $21,971 $16,307
Avg Grant Aid $18,667 $10,148
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 88%

Admission

 Ashland College Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,633 10,274
Admitted 2,927 9,810
Acceptance Rate 80.6% 95.5%
Enrolled % 17.7% 16.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.54 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/25 18/25
SAT Range 1020/1255 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, 2026

Academics

 Ashland College Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (36%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Social Sciences (4%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 Ashland College Cleveland State
Graduation Rate 61% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,400 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,250 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $271 $222

Diversity

 Ashland College Cleveland State
% Men 10% 15%
% Women 15% 18%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 77% 64%
% Black 12% 17%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 Ashland College Cleveland State
% In-State 84% 85%
% Out-of-State 13% 7%

Campus

 Ashland College 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 Ashland College based on total student enrollment (14,117 students vs. 4,143 students)

Ashland College vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ashland College or Cleveland State?

  • Ashland University is 121.7% more expensive to attend than Cleveland State for in-state tuition ($27,720.00 vs. $12,503.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 55.2% higher at Ashland College than Cleveland State University ($27,720.00 vs. $17,863.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cleveland State University than Ashland College ($16,307 vs. $21,971)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ashland University are 23.4% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($11,960 vs. $14,760)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ashland University than Cleveland State University (100% vs. 88%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ashland University students is 83.9% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($18,667 vs. $10,148)

Ashland College vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Ashland University (1045) is 17 points higher than at Cleveland State (1028)
  • Incoming Ashland College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Cleveland State (22)
  • Accepted freshman Ashland College students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than Ashland College (80.6%)

Ashland College vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Ashland College 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 Ashland College.

  • The graduation rate at Ashland College is higher than Cleveland State University (61% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $3,800 more per year than Ashland College graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $40,400)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $4,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Ashland College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,250)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than Ashland College graduates. ($222 vs. $271)
  • More Ashland College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 47%)

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