Cleveland State vs. Ferrum College

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

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Cleveland State University vs. Ferrum College comparison
Cleveland State University Ferrum College College 3 College 4
Cleveland State University Ferrum College
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Overview

Cleveland State Ferrum College
Location Cleveland, OH Ferrum, VA
Setting Large City Distant Rural
Enrollment 14,385 855
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #769
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csuohio.edu ferrum.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cleveland State Ferrum College
Tuition (In State) $12,144 $37,400
Tuition (Out of State) $17,359 $37,400
Room & Board $14,197 $13,230
Avg Net Price $15,719 $25,558
Avg Grant Aid $9,436 $26,580
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 94%

Admission

Cleveland State Ferrum College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,570 1,452
Admitted 9,872 1,224
Acceptance Rate 85.3% 84.3%
Enrolled % 16.8% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.14
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25
SAT Range 880/1130 900/1110
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 Sep 15, 2024

Academics

Cleveland State Ferrum College
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Cleveland State Ferrum College
Graduation Rate 30% 31%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,200 $39,000
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 49%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $28,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $289

Diversity

Cleveland State Ferrum College
% Men 46% 58%
% Women 54% 42%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 64% 52%
% Black 17% 34%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 6%
% International 5% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Cleveland State Ferrum College
% In-State 85% 64%
% Out-of-State 7% 34%

Campus

Cleveland State Ferrum 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 Ferrum College based on total student enrollment (14,385 students vs. 855 students)

Cleveland State vs. Ferrum College Cost Comparison

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

  • Ferrum College is 208% more expensive to attend than Cleveland State for in-state tuition ($37,400.00 vs. $12,144.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 115.5% higher at Ferrum College than Cleveland State University ($37,400.00 vs. $17,359.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cleveland State University than Ferrum College ($15,719 vs. $25,558)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ferrum College are 7.3% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($13,230 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ferrum College than Cleveland State University (94% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ferrum College students is 181.7% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($26,580 vs. $9,436)

Cleveland State vs. Ferrum College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Cleveland State University (1028) is 147 points higher than at Ferrum College (881)
  • Incoming Cleveland State students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Ferrum College (18)
  • Accepted freshman Cleveland State students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Ferrum College (3.14)
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than Ferrum College (84.3%)

Cleveland State vs. Ferrum College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cleveland State or Ferrum 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 Ferrum College and Cleveland State.

  • The graduation rate at Ferrum College is higher than Cleveland State University (31% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $5,200 more per year than Ferrum College graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $39,000)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $6,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Ferrum College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $28,000)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $67 less per month on federal student loans than Ferrum College graduates. ($222 vs. $289)
  • More Ferrum College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 47%)

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