Cleveland State vs. CCAD

Comparable Facts

Compare Cleveland State University in Cleveland, OH with Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cleveland State University is larger than CCAD based on total student enrollment (14,074 students vs. 916 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting); Columbus College of Art & Design is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
• Cleveland State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbus College of Art & Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cleveland State University 16:1; Columbus College of Art & Design 10:1.

Cleveland State vs. CCAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland State or CCAD? 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 CCAD ($16,230 vs. $31,801).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus College of Art & Design are 24.2% lower than at Cleveland State University ($11,450 vs. $15,104).
• Columbus College of Art & Design is 214.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cleveland State (about $27,837 more per year; $40,825.00 vs. $12,988.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 120.6% higher at CCAD than at Cleveland State University (about $22,315 more per year; $40,825.00 vs. $18,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbus College of Art & Design than at Cleveland State University (100% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbus College of Art & Design students is 134.8% larger than aid received by Cleveland State University students ($23,000 vs. $9,795).

Cleveland State vs. CCAD Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cleveland State University 880/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cleveland State University 18/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cleveland State - Test-free; CCAD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027.
• Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than CCAD (67.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at Cleveland State vs. 32.1% at CCAD.

Cleveland State vs. CCAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Columbus College of Art & Design's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Cleveland State University's (30%).
• Graduates from Cleveland State University earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than CCAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,200 vs. $38,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cleveland State University graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than CCAD graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Cleveland State graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.