Cleveland State vs. Carthage

Deciding between Cleveland State University and Carthage College? 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.

Cleveland State University
Carthage College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cleveland State Cleveland, OH
  • Carthage Kenosha, WI
  • Setting
  • Cleveland State Large City
  • Carthage Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Cleveland State 14,074
  • Carthage 2,844
  • Type
  • Cleveland State Public 4 Year
  • Carthage Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cleveland State #784
  • Carthage #663
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cleveland State -
  • Carthage Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • Cleveland State Non-profit
  • Carthage Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cleveland State
  • Carthage
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cleveland State $12,988
  • Carthage $38,750
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cleveland State $18,510
  • Carthage $38,750
  • Room & Board
  • Cleveland State $15,104
  • Carthage $13,450
  • Average Net Price
  • Cleveland State $16,230
  • Carthage $27,066
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cleveland State $9,795
  • Carthage $23,784
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cleveland State 90%
  • Carthage 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cleveland State 11,050
  • Carthage 7,777
  • Admitted
  • Cleveland State 10,089
  • Carthage 6,771
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cleveland State 91.3%
  • Carthage 87.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Cleveland State 15.7%
  • Carthage 11.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cleveland State 1010
  • Carthage 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cleveland State 21
  • Carthage 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cleveland State 3.31
  • Carthage 3.36
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cleveland State B+
  • Carthage B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cleveland State Very Easy
  • Carthage Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cleveland State
  • Carthage
  • ACT Range
  • Cleveland State 18/25
  • Carthage 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • Cleveland State 880/1130
  • Carthage 1000/1205
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cleveland State Test-free
  • Carthage Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027
  • Carthage
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cleveland State 16:1
  • Carthage 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cleveland State
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Carthage
    • Business (28%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cleveland State 30%
  • Carthage 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cleveland State $44,200
  • Carthage $48,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cleveland State 47%
  • Carthage 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cleveland State $21,500
  • Carthage $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cleveland State $222
  • Carthage $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cleveland State 45%
  • Carthage 43%
  • % Women
  • Cleveland State 55%
  • Carthage 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cleveland State Medium
  • Carthage Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Cleveland State No
  • Carthage No
  • % White
  • Cleveland State 64%
  • Carthage 75%
  • % Asian
  • Cleveland State 3%
  • Carthage 1%
  • % Black
  • Cleveland State 17%
  • Carthage 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cleveland State 5%
  • Carthage 4%
  • % Native American
  • Cleveland State 0%
  • Carthage 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cleveland State 0%
  • Carthage 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cleveland State 3%
  • Carthage 3%
  • % International
  • Cleveland State 5%
  • Carthage 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cleveland State 2%
  • Carthage 11%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cleveland State 94%
  • Carthage 36%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cleveland State 6%
  • Carthage 63%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Cleveland State University in Cleveland, OH with Carthage College in Kenosha, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cleveland State University is larger than Carthage based on total student enrollment (14,074 students vs. 2,844 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting); Carthage College is in Kenosha, WI (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Cleveland State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Carthage College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cleveland State University 16:1; Carthage College 14:1.

Cleveland State vs. Carthage Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland State or Carthage? 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 Carthage ($16,230 vs. $27,066).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carthage College are 11% lower than at Cleveland State University ($13,450 vs. $15,104).
  • Carthage College is 198.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cleveland State (about $25,762 more per year; $38,750.00 vs. $12,988.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 109.3% higher at Carthage than at Cleveland State University (about $20,240 more per year; $38,750.00 vs. $18,510.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carthage College than at Cleveland State University (100% vs. 90%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carthage College students is 142.8% larger than aid received by Cleveland State University students ($23,784 vs. $9,795).

Cleveland State vs. Carthage Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cleveland State or Carthage? 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 Carthage and Cleveland State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carthage College (1100) is 90 points higher than at Cleveland State (1010).
  • Incoming Carthage students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at Cleveland State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cleveland State University 880/1130; Carthage College 1000/1205.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cleveland State University 18/25; Carthage College 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cleveland State - Test-free; Carthage - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Carthage students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Cleveland State (3.31).
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than Carthage (87.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at Cleveland State vs. 11.3% at Carthage.

Cleveland State vs. Carthage Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cleveland State and Carthage? 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).

  • Carthage College's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Cleveland State University's (30%).
  • Graduates from Carthage College earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than Cleveland State graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,800 vs. $44,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cleveland State University graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Carthage graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cleveland State graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carthage graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Carthage graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (73% 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.