The Catholic University of America vs. Cleveland State

Comparable Facts

Compare The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC 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 The Catholic University of America based on total student enrollment (14,074 students vs. 5,243 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• The Catholic University of America is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Cleveland State University is in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting).
• The Catholic University of America is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cleveland State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The Catholic University of America 11:1; Cleveland State University 16:1.

The Catholic University of America vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, The Catholic University of America 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 The Catholic University of America ($16,230 vs. $32,705).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cleveland State University are 17% lower than at The Catholic University of America ($15,104 vs. $18,200).
• The Catholic University of America is 349.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cleveland State (about $45,390 more per year; $58,378.00 vs. $12,988.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 215.4% higher at The Catholic University of America than at Cleveland State University (about $39,868 more per year; $58,378.00 vs. $18,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The Catholic University of America than at Cleveland State University (99% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Catholic University of America students is 335.5% larger than aid received by Cleveland State University students ($42,657 vs. $9,795).

The Catholic University of America vs. Cleveland State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, The Catholic University of America or Cleveland State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cleveland State and The Catholic University of America.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresCleveland State University 880/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresCleveland State University 18/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: The Catholic University of America - Test-free; Cleveland State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: The Catholic University of America Jan 15, 2027; Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman The Catholic University of America students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Cleveland State (3.31).
• Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than The Catholic University of America (82.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.4% at The Catholic University of America vs. 15.7% at Cleveland State.

The Catholic University of America vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for The Catholic University of America and Cleveland State? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• The Catholic University of America's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Cleveland State University's (30%).
• Graduates from The Catholic University of America earn a median of about $14,400 more per year than Cleveland State graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,600 vs. $44,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cleveland State University graduates have a $4,606 lower median loan debt than The Catholic University of America graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,106).
• Among borrowers, Cleveland State graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than The Catholic University of America graduates ($222 vs. $269).
• More The Catholic University of America graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.