Cleveland State vs. Ohio State

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

 Cleveland State Ohio State
Location Cleveland, OH Columbus, OH
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 14,385 60,540
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #769 #134
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csuohio.edu osu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Cleveland State Ohio State
Tuition (In State) $12,144 $11,525
Tuition (Out of State) $17,359 $35,762
Room & Board $14,197 $14,006
Avg Net Price $15,719 $19,582
Avg Grant Aid $9,436 $10,993
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 74%

Admission

 Cleveland State Ohio State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,570 65,189
Admitted 9,872 34,370
Acceptance Rate 85.3% 52.7%
Enrolled % 16.8% 23.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.76
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/25 29/32
SAT Range 880/1130 1310/1480
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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 Cleveland State Ohio State
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 Cleveland State Ohio State
% Men 46% 48%
% Women 54% 52%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 64% 71%
% Black 17% 6%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 5% 7%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

 Cleveland State Ohio State
% In-State 85% 66%
% Out-of-State 7% 23%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Ohio State University is larger than than Cleveland State based on total student enrollment (60,540 students vs. 14,385 students)

Cleveland State vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland State or Ohio State?

  • Cleveland State University is 5.4% more expensive to attend than Ohio State for in-state tuition ($12,144.00 vs. $11,525.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 106% higher at Ohio State than Cleveland State University ($35,762.00 vs. $17,359.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cleveland State University than Ohio State ($15,719 vs. $19,582)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University are 1.4% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($14,006 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cleveland State University than Ohio State University (91% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University students is 16.5% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($10,993 vs. $9,436)

Cleveland State vs. Ohio State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Ohio State University (1295) is 267 points higher than at Cleveland State (1028)
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Cleveland State (22)
  • 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 (85.3%) than Ohio State (52.7%)

Cleveland State vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Ohio State is higher than Cleveland State University (80% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Ohio State University earn on average $6,400 more per year than Cleveland State graduates after ten years. ($50,600 vs. $44,200)
  • Ohio State University and Cleveland State graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($21,500 vs. $21,500)
  • Ohio State University and Cleveland State graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($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/