Cleveland State vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare Cleveland State University in Cleveland, OH with Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cleveland State University is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (14,074 students vs. 414 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting); Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
• Cleveland State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cleveland State University 16:1; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1.

Cleveland State vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland State or Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($16,230 vs. $28,826).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cleveland State University are 12.3% lower than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($15,104 vs. $17,230).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is 147.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cleveland State (about $19,162 more per year; $32,150.00 vs. $12,988.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 73.7% higher at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Cleveland State University (about $13,640 more per year; $32,150.00 vs. $18,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Cleveland State University (100% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students is 53% larger than aid received by Cleveland State University students ($14,989 vs. $9,795).

Cleveland State vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cleveland State or Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and Cleveland State.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cleveland State University 880/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cleveland State University 18/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cleveland State - Test-free; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cleveland State students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (3.13).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than Cleveland State (91.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at Cleveland State vs. 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

Cleveland State vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cleveland State and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? 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).

• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Cleveland State University's (30%).
• Graduates from Cleveland State University earn a median of about $15,500 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,200 vs. $28,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cleveland State University graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Cleveland State graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($222 vs. $279).
• More Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.