Cleveland State vs. NSU

Should I go to Cleveland State University or Northeastern State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cleveland State or NSU 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. Northeastern State University comparison
Cleveland State University Northeastern State University College 3 College 4
Cleveland State University Northeastern State University
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Overview

Cleveland State NSU
Location Cleveland, OH Tahlequah, OK
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 14,385 6,702
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #769 #933
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csuohio.edu nsuok.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cleveland State NSU
Tuition (In State) $12,144 $6,285
Tuition (Out of State) $17,359 $15,270
Room & Board $14,197 $8,292
Avg Net Price $15,719 $9,669
Avg Grant Aid $9,436 $8,528
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 96%

Admission

Cleveland State NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,570 1,674
Admitted 9,872 1,665
Acceptance Rate 85.3% 99.5%
Enrolled % 16.8% 42.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.49
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25 17/23
SAT Range 880/1130 875/1130
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 NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Cleveland State NSU
Graduation Rate 30% 26%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,200 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 48%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $18,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $186

Diversity

Cleveland State NSU
% Men 46% 35%
% Women 54% 65%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 64% 50%
% Black 17% 4%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 19%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 17%
% International 5% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Cleveland State NSU
% In-State 85% 91%
% Out-of-State 7% 8%

Campus

Cleveland State NSU
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 NSU based on total student enrollment (14,385 students vs. 6,702 students)

Cleveland State vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland State or NSU?

  • Cleveland State University is 93.2% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($12,144.00 vs. $6,285.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.7% higher at Cleveland State than Northeastern State University ($17,359.00 vs. $15,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northeastern State University than Cleveland State ($9,669 vs. $15,719)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern State University are 71.2% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($8,292 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northeastern State University than Cleveland State University (96% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland State University students is 10.6% larger than aid received Northeastern State University ($9,436 vs. $8,528)

Cleveland State vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Cleveland State University (1028) is 40 points higher than at NSU (988)
  • Incoming Cleveland State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at NSU (21)
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than Cleveland State (85.3%)

Cleveland State vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Cleveland State is higher than Northeastern State University (30% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $4,000 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $40,200)
  • Northeastern State University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Cleveland State graduates. ($18,000 vs. $21,500)
  • NSU graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Cleveland State graduates. ($186 vs. $222)
  • More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 47%)

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