Cleveland State vs. CCAD

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

Cleveland State CCAD
Location Cleveland, OH Columbus, OH
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 14,385 972
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #769
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csuohio.edu ccad.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cleveland State CCAD
Tuition (In State) $12,144 $37,650
Tuition (Out of State) $17,359 $37,650
Room & Board $14,197 $11,000
Avg Net Price $15,719 $29,238
Avg Grant Aid $9,436 $23,246
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 100%

Admission

Cleveland State CCAD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,570 776
Admitted 9,872 706
Acceptance Rate 85.3% 91%
Enrolled % 16.8% 32.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25
SAT Range 880/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Cleveland State CCAD
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)

Outcomes

Cleveland State CCAD
Graduation Rate 30% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,200 $38,100
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $279

Diversity

Cleveland State CCAD
% Men 46% 30%
% Women 54% 70%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 64% 66%
% Black 17% 10%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 5% 7%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

Cleveland State CCAD
% In-State 85% 67%
% Out-of-State 7% 28%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than CCAD based on total student enrollment (14,385 students vs. 972 students)

Cleveland State vs. CCAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland State or CCAD?

  • Columbus College of Art and Design is 210% more expensive to attend than Cleveland State for in-state tuition ($37,650.00 vs. $12,144.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 116.9% higher at CCAD than Cleveland State University ($37,650.00 vs. $17,359.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cleveland State University than CCAD ($15,719 vs. $29,238)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus College of Art and Design are 29.1% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($11,000 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbus College of Art and Design than Cleveland State University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbus College of Art and Design students is 146.4% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($23,246 vs. $9,436)

Cleveland State vs. CCAD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • CCAD has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than Cleveland State (85.3%)

Cleveland State vs. CCAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cleveland State or CCAD? 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 CCAD and Cleveland State.

  • The graduation rate at CCAD is higher than Cleveland State University (64% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $6,100 more per year than CCAD graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $38,100)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than CCAD graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than CCAD graduates. ($222 vs. $279)
  • More CCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 47%)

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