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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 | Northern State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Cleveland State | NSU | ||
| Location | Cleveland, OH | Aberdeen, SD | ||
| Setting | Large City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 14,117 | 3,521 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #780 | #871 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | csuohio.edu | northern.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cleveland State | NSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,503 | $7,616 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,863 | $10,718 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,760 | $10,300 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,307 | $16,873 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,148 | $5,565 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 88% | 93% |
Admission |
Cleveland State | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,274 | 1,082 | ||
| Admitted | 9,810 | 1,004 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 95.5% | 92.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.2% | 31.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.31 | 3.37 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/25 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 880/1130 | 800/1150 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
Cleveland State | NSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Cleveland State | NSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 30% | 42% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,200 | $37,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $24,399 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $252 |
Diversity |
Cleveland State | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 18% | 13% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 64% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 17% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
Cleveland State | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 85% | 72% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 7% | 28% | ||
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 | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Cleveland State University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (14,117 students vs. 3,521 students)
Cleveland State vs. NSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cleveland State or NSU?
- Cleveland State University is 64.2% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($12,503.00 vs. $7,616.00)
- Out of state tuition is 66.7% higher at Cleveland State than Northern State University ($17,863.00 vs. $10,718.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cleveland State University than NSU ($16,307 vs. $16,873)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern State University are 43.3% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($10,300 vs. $14,760)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern State University than Cleveland State University (93% vs. 88%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland State University students is 82.4% larger than aid received Northern State University ($10,148 vs. $5,565)
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 4 points higher than at NSU (1024)
- Incoming Cleveland State students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at NSU (22)
- Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
- Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than NSU (92.8%)
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 NSU is higher than Cleveland State University (42% vs. 30%)
- Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $6,800 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $37,400)
- Cleveland State University students graduate with a $2,899 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,399)
- Cleveland State graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($222 vs. $252)
- More NSU 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/