Cleveland State vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

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

Cleveland State Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Location Cleveland, OH Lancaster, PA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 14,385 245
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #769
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csuohio.edu pcad.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cleveland State Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Tuition (In State) $12,144 $27,750
Tuition (Out of State) $17,359 $27,750
Room & Board $14,197 $11,665
Avg Net Price $15,719 $26,649
Avg Grant Aid $9,436 $13,038
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 100%

Admission

Cleveland State Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,570 562
Admitted 9,872 249
Acceptance Rate 85.3% 44.3%
Enrolled % 16.8% 26.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.13
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/25
SAT Range 880/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Cleveland State Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)

Outcomes

Cleveland State Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Graduation Rate 30% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,200 $28,700
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $279

Diversity

Cleveland State Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
% Men 46% 28%
% Women 54% 72%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 64% 73%
% Black 17% 7%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 5% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 7%

Students

Cleveland State Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
% In-State 85% 59%
% Out-of-State 7% 41%

Campus

Cleveland State Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (14,385 students vs. 245 students)

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?

  • Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is 128.5% more expensive to attend than Cleveland State for in-state tuition ($27,750.00 vs. $12,144.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 59.9% higher at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than Cleveland State University ($27,750.00 vs. $17,359.00)
  • 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 ($15,719 vs. $26,649)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design are 21.7% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($11,665 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than Cleveland State University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students is 38.2% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($13,038 vs. $9,436)

Cleveland State vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • 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)
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (44.3%)

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

Which is better, Cleveland State or Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and Cleveland State.

  • The graduation rate at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is higher than Cleveland State University (52% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $15,500 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $28,700)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans 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/