Cleveland State vs. Defiance College

Comparable Facts

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

Cleveland State University is larger than Defiance College based on total student enrollment (14,074 students vs. 568 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting); Defiance College is in Defiance, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
• Cleveland State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Defiance College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cleveland State University 16:1; Defiance College 11:1.

Cleveland State vs. Defiance College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland State or Defiance College? 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 Defiance College ($16,230 vs. $26,298).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Defiance College are 16.5% lower than at Cleveland State University ($12,606 vs. $15,104).
• Defiance College is 125.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cleveland State (about $16,332 more per year; $29,320.00 vs. $12,988.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 58.4% higher at Defiance College than at Cleveland State University (about $10,810 more per year; $29,320.00 vs. $18,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Defiance College than at Cleveland State University (99% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Defiance College students is 175.9% larger than aid received by Cleveland State University students ($27,024 vs. $9,795).

Cleveland State vs. Defiance College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cleveland State University (1010) is 20 points higher than at Defiance College (990).
• Incoming Cleveland State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at Defiance College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cleveland State University 880/1130; Defiance College 860/1110.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cleveland State University 18/25; Defiance College 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cleveland State - Test-free; Defiance College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cleveland State students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Defiance College (3.12).
• Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than Defiance College (47.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at Cleveland State vs. 21.6% at Defiance College.

Cleveland State vs. Defiance College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cleveland State and Defiance College? 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).

• Defiance College's six-year graduation rate (51%) is higher than Cleveland State University's (30%).
• Graduates from Cleveland State University earn a median of about $500 more per year than Defiance College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,200 vs. $43,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cleveland State University graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Defiance College graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Cleveland State graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Defiance College graduates ($222 vs. $279).
• More Defiance College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.