Cleveland State vs. Shawnee State University

Deciding between Cleveland State University and Shawnee State University? 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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cleveland State Cleveland, OH
  • Shawnee State University Portsmouth, OH
  • Setting
  • Cleveland State Large City
  • Shawnee State University Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Cleveland State 14,074
  • Shawnee State University 3,231
  • Type
  • Cleveland State Public 4 Year
  • Shawnee State University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cleveland State #784
  • Shawnee State University
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cleveland State -
  • Shawnee State University -
  • Status
  • Cleveland State Non-profit
  • Shawnee State University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cleveland State
  • Shawnee State University
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cleveland State $12,988
  • Shawnee State University $10,626
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cleveland State $18,510
  • Shawnee State University $17,358
  • Room & Board
  • Cleveland State $15,104
  • Shawnee State University $12,502
  • Average Net Price
  • Cleveland State $16,230
  • Shawnee State University $13,996
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cleveland State $9,795
  • Shawnee State University $7,820
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cleveland State 90%
  • Shawnee State University 87%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cleveland State 11,050
  • Shawnee State University -
  • Admitted
  • Cleveland State 10,089
  • Shawnee State University -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cleveland State 91.3%
  • Shawnee State University Open
  • Enrolled
  • Cleveland State 15.7%
  • Shawnee State University Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cleveland State 1010
  • Shawnee State University
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cleveland State 21
  • Shawnee State University
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cleveland State 3.31
  • Shawnee State University 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cleveland State B+
  • Shawnee State University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cleveland State Very Easy
  • Shawnee State University Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cleveland State
  • Shawnee State University
  • ACT Range
  • Cleveland State 18/25
  • Shawnee State University
  • SAT Range
  • Cleveland State 880/1130
  • Shawnee State University
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cleveland State Test-free
  • Shawnee State University Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027
  • Shawnee State University
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cleveland State 16:1
  • Shawnee State University 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cleveland State
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Shawnee State University
    • Health Professions (32%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cleveland State 30%
  • Shawnee State University 22%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cleveland State $44,200
  • Shawnee State University $36,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cleveland State 47%
  • Shawnee State University 36%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cleveland State $21,500
  • Shawnee State University $23,712
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cleveland State $222
  • Shawnee State University $245
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cleveland State 45%
  • Shawnee State University 41%
  • % Women
  • Cleveland State 55%
  • Shawnee State University 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cleveland State Medium
  • Shawnee State University Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Cleveland State No
  • Shawnee State University No
  • % White
  • Cleveland State 64%
  • Shawnee State University 86%
  • % Asian
  • Cleveland State 3%
  • Shawnee State University 0%
  • % Black
  • Cleveland State 17%
  • Shawnee State University 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cleveland State 5%
  • Shawnee State University 1%
  • % Native American
  • Cleveland State 0%
  • Shawnee State University 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cleveland State 0%
  • Shawnee State University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cleveland State 3%
  • Shawnee State University 2%
  • % International
  • Cleveland State 5%
  • Shawnee State University 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cleveland State 2%
  • Shawnee State University 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cleveland State 94%
  • Shawnee State University 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cleveland State 6%
  • Shawnee State University 11%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Cleveland State University in Cleveland, OH with Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cleveland State University is larger than Shawnee State University based on total student enrollment (14,074 students vs. 3,231 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting); Shawnee State University is in Portsmouth, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • Cleveland State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Shawnee State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cleveland State University 16:1; Shawnee State University 12:1.

Cleveland State vs. Shawnee State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland State or Shawnee State University? 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 Shawnee State University than Cleveland State ($13,996 vs. $16,230).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shawnee State University are 17.2% lower than at Cleveland State University ($12,502 vs. $15,104).
  • Cleveland State University is 22.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Shawnee State University (about $2,362 more per year; $12,988.00 vs. $10,626.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.6% higher at Cleveland State than at Shawnee State University (about $1,152 more per year; $18,510.00 vs. $17,358.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cleveland State University than at Shawnee State University (90% vs. 87%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland State University students is 25.3% larger than aid received by Shawnee State University students ($9,795 vs. $7,820).

Cleveland State vs. Shawnee State University Admissions comparison

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

  • Shawnee State University reports an open admissions policy.
  • 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; Shawnee State University - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cleveland State students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Shawnee State University (3.3).

Cleveland State vs. Shawnee State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cleveland State and Shawnee State University? 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).

  • Cleveland State University's six-year graduation rate (30%) is higher than Shawnee State University's (22%).
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than Shawnee State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,200 vs. $36,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cleveland State University graduates have a $2,212 lower median loan debt than Shawnee State University graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,712).
  • Among borrowers, Cleveland State graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Shawnee State University graduates ($222 vs. $245).
  • More Cleveland State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shawnee State University students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 36%)

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.