Case Western vs. Cleveland State

Deciding between Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Case Western Cleveland, OH
  • Cleveland State Cleveland, OH
  • Setting
  • Case Western Large City
  • Cleveland State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Case Western 12,475
  • Cleveland State 14,074
  • Type
  • Case Western Private 4 Year
  • Cleveland State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Case Western #51
  • Cleveland State #784
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Case Western -
  • Cleveland State -
  • Status
  • Case Western Non-profit
  • Cleveland State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Case Western
  • Cleveland State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Case Western $66,608
  • Cleveland State $12,988
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Case Western $66,608
  • Cleveland State $18,510
  • Room & Board
  • Case Western $18,762
  • Cleveland State $15,104
  • Average Net Price
  • Case Western $44,000
  • Cleveland State $16,230
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Case Western $41,913
  • Cleveland State $9,795
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Case Western 88%
  • Cleveland State 90%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Case Western 37,082
  • Cleveland State 11,050
  • Admitted
  • Case Western 13,550
  • Cleveland State 10,089
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Case Western 36.5%
  • Cleveland State 91.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Case Western 11.9%
  • Cleveland State 15.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Case Western 1490
  • Cleveland State 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • Case Western 33
  • Cleveland State 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • Case Western 3.86
  • Cleveland State 3.31
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Case Western A
  • Cleveland State B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Case Western Exceptional
  • Cleveland State Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Case Western High
  • Cleveland State
  • ACT Range
  • Case Western 32/34
  • Cleveland State 18/25
  • SAT Range
  • Case Western 1430/1540
  • Cleveland State 880/1130
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Case Western Test optional
  • Cleveland State Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Case Western Jan 15, 2027
  • Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Case Western 9:1
  • Cleveland State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Case Western
    • Engineering (28%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Cleveland State
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Case Western 78%
  • Cleveland State 30%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Case Western $84,700
  • Cleveland State $44,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Case Western 84%
  • Cleveland State 47%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Case Western $24,066
  • Cleveland State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Case Western $248
  • Cleveland State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Case Western 48%
  • Cleveland State 45%
  • % Women
  • Case Western 52%
  • Cleveland State 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Case Western High
  • Cleveland State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Case Western No
  • Cleveland State No
  • % White
  • Case Western 52%
  • Cleveland State 64%
  • % Asian
  • Case Western 20%
  • Cleveland State 3%
  • % Black
  • Case Western 5%
  • Cleveland State 17%
  • % Hispanic
  • Case Western 6%
  • Cleveland State 5%
  • % Native American
  • Case Western 0%
  • Cleveland State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Case Western 0%
  • Cleveland State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Case Western 4%
  • Cleveland State 3%
  • % International
  • Case Western 11%
  • Cleveland State 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Case Western 2%
  • Cleveland State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Case Western 13%
  • Cleveland State 94%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Case Western 75%
  • Cleveland State 6%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Case Western Yes
  • Cleveland State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Case Western No
  • Cleveland State No
  • Meal Plan
  • Case Western Yes
  • Cleveland State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Case Western No
  • Cleveland State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Case Western No
  • Cleveland State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH with Cleveland State University in Cleveland, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cleveland State University is larger than Case Western based on total student enrollment (14,074 students vs. 12,475 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Case Western Reserve University is located in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting); Cleveland State University is in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting).
  • Case Western Reserve University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cleveland State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Case Western Reserve University 9:1; Cleveland State University 16:1.

Case Western vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Case Western or Cleveland State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cleveland State University than Case Western ($16,230 vs. $44,000).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cleveland State University are 19.5% lower than at Case Western Reserve University ($15,104 vs. $18,762).
  • Case Western Reserve University is 412.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cleveland State (about $53,620 more per year; $66,608.00 vs. $12,988.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 259.8% higher at Case Western than at Cleveland State University (about $48,098 more per year; $66,608.00 vs. $18,510.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cleveland State University than at Case Western Reserve University (90% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Case Western Reserve University students is 327.9% larger than aid received by Cleveland State University students ($41,913 vs. $9,795).

Case Western vs. Cleveland State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Case Western or Cleveland State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cleveland State and Case Western.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Case Western Reserve University (1490) is 480 points higher than at Cleveland State (1010).
  • Incoming Case Western students have a 12 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 21 at Cleveland State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Case Western Reserve University 1430/1540; Cleveland State University 880/1130.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Case Western Reserve University 32/34; Cleveland State University 18/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Case Western - Test optional; Cleveland State - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Case Western Jan 15, 2027; Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Case Western students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Cleveland State (3.31).
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than Case Western (36.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.9% at Case Western vs. 15.7% at Cleveland State.

Case Western vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Case Western and Cleveland State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Case Western Reserve University's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than Cleveland State University's (30%).
  • Graduates from Case Western Reserve University earn a median of about $40,500 more per year than Cleveland State graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,700 vs. $44,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cleveland State University graduates have a $2,566 lower median loan debt than Case Western graduates ($21,500 vs. $24,066).
  • Among borrowers, Cleveland State graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Case Western graduates ($222 vs. $248).
  • More Case Western graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.