Cleveland State vs. Ohio State

Deciding between Cleveland State University and Ohio State University Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Cleveland State University
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cleveland State Cleveland, OH
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • Cleveland State Large City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cleveland State 14,074
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • Cleveland State Public 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cleveland State #784
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cleveland State -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • Cleveland State Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cleveland State
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cleveland State $12,988
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cleveland State $18,510
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • Cleveland State $15,104
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • Cleveland State $16,230
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cleveland State $9,795
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cleveland State 90%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cleveland State 11,050
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • Cleveland State 10,089
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cleveland State 91.3%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Cleveland State 15.7%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cleveland State 1010
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cleveland State 21
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cleveland State 3.31
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cleveland State B+
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cleveland State Very Easy
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cleveland State
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cleveland State 18/25
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Cleveland State 880/1130
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cleveland State Test-free
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cleveland State 16:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cleveland State
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cleveland State 30%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cleveland State $44,200
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cleveland State 47%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cleveland State $21,500
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cleveland State $222
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cleveland State 45%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • Cleveland State 55%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cleveland State Medium
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Cleveland State No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • Cleveland State 64%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • Cleveland State 3%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • Cleveland State 17%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cleveland State 5%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Cleveland State 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cleveland State 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cleveland State 3%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • Cleveland State 5%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cleveland State 2%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cleveland State 94%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cleveland State 6%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cleveland State Yes
  • Ohio State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cleveland State No
  • Ohio State No
  • Meal Plan
  • Cleveland State Yes
  • Ohio State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cleveland State Yes
  • Ohio State No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cleveland State Yes
  • Ohio State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Cleveland State University in Cleveland, OH with Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Cleveland State based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 14,074 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • Cleveland State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cleveland State University 16:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

Cleveland State vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland State or Ohio State? 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 Ohio State ($16,230 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 2.4% lower than at Cleveland State University ($14,738 vs. $15,104).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is 2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cleveland State (about $256 more per year; $13,244.00 vs. $12,988.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 116.2% higher at Ohio State than at Cleveland State University (about $21,512 more per year; $40,022.00 vs. $18,510.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cleveland State University than at Ohio State University Main Campus (90% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students is 34.3% larger than aid received by Cleveland State University students ($13,151 vs. $9,795).

Cleveland State vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 390 points higher than at Cleveland State (1010).
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 21 at Cleveland State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cleveland State University 880/1130; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cleveland State University 18/25; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cleveland State - Test-free; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Cleveland State (3.31).
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than Ohio State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at Cleveland State vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

Cleveland State vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cleveland State and Ohio State? 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).

  • Ohio State University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Cleveland State University's (30%).
  • Graduates from Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than Cleveland State graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,600 vs. $44,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus and Cleveland State graduates have the same median loan debt ($21,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Ohio State University Main Campus and Cleveland State graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($222 vs. $222).
  • More Ohio State 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.