Central State University vs. Kent State

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

 Central State University Kent State
Location Wilberforce, OH Kent, OH
Setting Rural Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,434 25,854
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1023 #839
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website centralstate.edu kent.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Central State University Kent State
Tuition (In State) $5,176 $12,304
Tuition (Out of State) $7,176 $21,410
Room & Board $10,900 $12,676
Avg Net Price $10,194 $19,046
Avg Grant Aid $6,943 $9,539
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 96%

Admission

 Central State University Kent State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,814 20,369
Admitted 3,388 17,929
Acceptance Rate 88.8% 88%
Enrolled % 18.1% 23.9%
Avg High School GPA 2.8 3.61
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 14/18 18/25
SAT Range 770/950 990/1220
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 1, 2025

Academics

 Central State University Kent State
Student to Faculty Ratio 21:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 Central State University Kent State
Graduation Rate 24% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $27,200 $40,300
Making Student Loan Payments 16% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $39,000 $25,825
Median Loan Payment $403 $267

Diversity

 Central State University Kent State
% Men 30% 37%
% Women 70% 63%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 1% 75%
% Black 95% 9%
% Hispanic 1% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 0% 6%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

 Central State University Kent State
% In-State 55% 80%
% Out-of-State 36% 18%

Campus

 Central State University Kent 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

  • Kent State University at Kent is larger than than Central State University based on total student enrollment (25,854 students vs. 5,434 students)

Central State University vs. Kent State Cost Comparison

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

  • Kent State University at Kent is 137.7% more expensive to attend than Central State University for in-state tuition ($12,304.00 vs. $5,176.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 198.4% higher at Kent State than Central State University ($21,410.00 vs. $7,176.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central State University than Kent State ($10,194 vs. $19,046)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central State University are 16.3% lower than costs at Kent State University at Kent ($10,900 vs. $12,676)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Kent State University at Kent than Central State University (96% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kent State University at Kent students is 37.4% larger than aid received Central State University ($9,539 vs. $6,943)

Central State University vs. Kent State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Kent State University at Kent (1067) is 290 points higher than at Central State University (777)
  • Incoming Kent State students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Central State University (16)
  • Accepted freshman Kent State students have a 0.81 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Central State University (2.8)
  • Central State University has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than Kent State (88%)

Central State University vs. Kent State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central State University or Kent 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 Kent State and Central State University.

  • The graduation rate at Kent State is higher than Central State University (50% vs. 24%)
  • Graduates from Kent State University at Kent earn on average $13,100 more per year than Central State University graduates after ten years. ($40,300 vs. $27,200)
  • Kent State University at Kent students graduate with a $13,175 lower median federal student loan debt than Central State University graduates. ($25,825 vs. $39,000)
  • Kent State graduates are paying $136 less per month on federal student loans than Central State University graduates. ($267 vs. $403)
  • More Kent State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central State University students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 16%)

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