Cleveland State vs. Defiance College

Should I go to Cleveland State University or Defiance College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cleveland State or Defiance College 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

University of Dayton Kent State BGSU UC Ohio State WSU Gannon University Lewis University University of Akron Youngstown State Case Western Wright State
Cleveland State University vs. Defiance College comparison
Cleveland State University Defiance College College 3 College 4
Cleveland State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Cleveland State Defiance College
Location Cleveland, OH Defiance, OH
Setting Large City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 14,385 540
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #769
Religious Affiliation - United Church of Christ - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csuohio.edu defiance.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cleveland State Defiance College
Tuition (In State) $12,144 $34,556
Tuition (Out of State) $17,359 $34,556
Room & Board $14,197 $10,940
Avg Net Price $15,719 $23,196
Avg Grant Aid $9,436 $24,970
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 99%

Admission

Cleveland State Defiance College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,570 2,722
Admitted 9,872 1,711
Acceptance Rate 85.3% 62.9%
Enrolled % 16.8% 8.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.12
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/25 17/23
SAT Range 880/1130 860/1110
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 15, 2025

Academics

Cleveland State Defiance College
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)

Outcomes

Cleveland State Defiance College
Graduation Rate 30% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,200 $43,700
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $279

Diversity

Cleveland State Defiance College
% Men 46% 60%
% Women 54% 40%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 64% 80%
% Black 17% 8%
% Hispanic 5% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 5% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Cleveland State Defiance College
% In-State 85% 66%
% Out-of-State 7% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than Defiance College based on total student enrollment (14,385 students vs. 540 students)

Cleveland State vs. Defiance College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland State or Defiance College?

  • Defiance College is 184.6% more expensive to attend than Cleveland State for in-state tuition ($34,556.00 vs. $12,144.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 99.1% higher at Defiance College than Cleveland State University ($34,556.00 vs. $17,359.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cleveland State University than Defiance College ($15,719 vs. $23,196)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Defiance College are 29.8% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($10,940 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Defiance College than Cleveland State University (99% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Defiance College students is 164.6% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($24,970 vs. $9,436)

Cleveland State vs. Defiance College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Cleveland State University (1028) is 44 points higher than at Defiance College (984)
  • Incoming Cleveland State students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Defiance College (22)
  • 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 (85.3%) than Defiance College (62.9%)

Cleveland State vs. Defiance College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cleveland State or Defiance College? 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 Defiance College and Cleveland State.

  • The graduation rate at Defiance College is higher than Cleveland State University (51% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $500 more per year than Defiance College graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $43,700)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Defiance College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans 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/