Cleveland State vs. Wilberforce University

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

Cleveland State Wilberforce University
Location Cleveland, OH Wilberforce, OH
Setting Large City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 14,385 656
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #769
Religious Affiliation - African Methodist Episcopal - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csuohio.edu wilberforce.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cleveland State Wilberforce University
Tuition (In State) $12,144 $12,020
Tuition (Out of State) $17,359 $12,020
Room & Board $14,197 $7,000
Avg Net Price $15,719 $14,070
Avg Grant Aid $9,436 $9,380
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 100%

Admission

Cleveland State Wilberforce University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,570 4,100
Admitted 9,872 1,850
Acceptance Rate 85.3% 45.1%
Enrolled % 16.8% 19.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 2.82
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/25 14/18
SAT Range 880/1130 840/940
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 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

Cleveland State Wilberforce University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (54%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Cleveland State Wilberforce University
Graduation Rate 30% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,200 $36,200
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 39%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $20,750
Median Loan Payment $222 $214

Diversity

Cleveland State Wilberforce University
% Men 46% 45%
% Women 54% 55%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 64% 1%
% Black 17% 84%
% Hispanic 5% 1%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 5% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 10%

Students

Cleveland State Wilberforce University
% In-State 85% 30%
% Out-of-State 7% 34%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than Wilberforce University based on total student enrollment (14,385 students vs. 656 students)

Cleveland State vs. Wilberforce University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland State or Wilberforce University?

  • Cleveland State University is 1% more expensive to attend than Wilberforce University for in-state tuition ($12,144.00 vs. $12,020.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 44.4% higher at Cleveland State than Wilberforce University ($17,359.00 vs. $12,020.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wilberforce University than Cleveland State ($14,070 vs. $15,719)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wilberforce University are 102.8% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($7,000 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wilberforce University than Cleveland State University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland State University students is 0.6% larger than aid received Wilberforce University ($9,436 vs. $9,380)

Cleveland State vs. Wilberforce University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Cleveland State University (1028) is 266 points higher than at Wilberforce University (762)
  • Incoming Cleveland State students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Wilberforce University (16)
  • Accepted freshman Cleveland State students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Wilberforce University (2.82)
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than Wilberforce University (45.1%)

Cleveland State vs. Wilberforce University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cleveland State or Wilberforce University? 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 Wilberforce University and Cleveland State.

  • The graduation rate at Cleveland State is the same as at Wilberforce University (30% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $8,000 more per year than Wilberforce University graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $36,200)
  • Wilberforce University students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than Cleveland State graduates. ($20,750 vs. $21,500)
  • Wilberforce University graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than Cleveland State graduates. ($214 vs. $222)
  • More Cleveland State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wilberforce University students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 39%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/