Central State University vs. Cleveland State

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

Central State University Cleveland State
Location Wilberforce, OH Cleveland, OH
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 5,434 14,385
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1023 #769
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website centralstate.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Central State University Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $5,176 $12,144
Tuition (Out of State) $7,176 $17,359
Room & Board $10,900 $14,197
Avg Net Price $10,194 $15,719
Avg Grant Aid $6,943 $9,436
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 91%

Admission

Central State University Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,814 11,570
Admitted 3,388 9,872
Acceptance Rate 88.8% 85.3%
Enrolled % 18.1% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 2.8 3.31
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 14/18 18/25
SAT Range 770/950 880/1130
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

Central State University Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 21:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Central State University Cleveland State
Graduation Rate 24% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $27,200 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 16% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $39,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $403 $222

Diversity

Central State University Cleveland State
% Men 30% 46%
% Women 70% 54%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 1% 64%
% Black 95% 17%
% Hispanic 1% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Central State University Cleveland State
% In-State 55% 85%
% Out-of-State 36% 7%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than Central State University based on total student enrollment (14,385 students vs. 5,434 students)

Central State University vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central State University or Cleveland State?

  • Cleveland State University is 134.6% more expensive to attend than Central State University for in-state tuition ($12,144.00 vs. $5,176.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 141.9% higher at Cleveland State than Central State University ($17,359.00 vs. $7,176.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central State University than Cleveland State ($10,194 vs. $15,719)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central State University are 30.2% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($10,900 vs. $14,197)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Central State University as Cleveland State University (91% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland State University students is 35.9% larger than aid received Central State University ($9,436 vs. $6,943)

Central State University vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Cleveland State University (1028) is 251 points higher than at Central State University (777)
  • Incoming Cleveland State students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Central State University (16)
  • Accepted freshman Cleveland State students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Central State University (2.8)
  • Central State University has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than Cleveland State (85.3%)

Central State University vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central State University 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 Central State University.

  • The graduation rate at Cleveland State is higher than Central State University (30% vs. 24%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $17,000 more per year than Central State University graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $27,200)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $17,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Central State University graduates. ($21,500 vs. $39,000)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $181 less per month on federal student loans than Central State University graduates. ($222 vs. $403)
  • More Cleveland State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central State University students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 16%)

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