Cleveland State vs. Wright State

Deciding between Cleveland State University and Wright State University Main Campus? 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
Wright State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cleveland State Cleveland, OH
  • Wright State Dayton, OH
  • Setting
  • Cleveland State Large City
  • Wright State Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Cleveland State 14,074
  • Wright State 10,603
  • Type
  • Cleveland State Public 4 Year
  • Wright State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cleveland State #784
  • Wright State #832
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cleveland State -
  • Wright State -
  • Status
  • Cleveland State Non-profit
  • Wright State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cleveland State
  • Wright State
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cleveland State $12,988
  • Wright State $11,522
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cleveland State $18,510
  • Wright State $21,222
  • Room & Board
  • Cleveland State $15,104
  • Wright State $11,250
  • Average Net Price
  • Cleveland State $16,230
  • Wright State $15,254
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cleveland State $9,795
  • Wright State $8,942
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cleveland State 90%
  • Wright State 92%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cleveland State 11,050
  • Wright State 8,855
  • Admitted
  • Cleveland State 10,089
  • Wright State 8,530
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cleveland State 91.3%
  • Wright State 96.3% Open
  • Enrolled
  • Cleveland State 15.7%
  • Wright State 20.4% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cleveland State 1010
  • Wright State 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cleveland State 21
  • Wright State 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cleveland State 3.31
  • Wright State 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cleveland State B+
  • Wright State B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cleveland State Very Easy
  • Wright State Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cleveland State
  • Wright State
  • ACT Range
  • Cleveland State 18/25
  • Wright State 17/25
  • SAT Range
  • Cleveland State 880/1130
  • Wright State 913/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cleveland State Test-free
  • Wright State Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027
  • Wright State Aug 23, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cleveland State 16:1
  • Wright State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cleveland State
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Wright State
    • Business (29%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cleveland State 30%
  • Wright State 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cleveland State $44,200
  • Wright State $43,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cleveland State 47%
  • Wright State 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cleveland State $21,500
  • Wright State $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cleveland State $222
  • Wright State $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cleveland State 45%
  • Wright State 46%
  • % Women
  • Cleveland State 55%
  • Wright State 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cleveland State Medium
  • Wright State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Cleveland State No
  • Wright State No
  • % White
  • Cleveland State 64%
  • Wright State 72%
  • % Asian
  • Cleveland State 3%
  • Wright State 2%
  • % Black
  • Cleveland State 17%
  • Wright State 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cleveland State 5%
  • Wright State 3%
  • % Native American
  • Cleveland State 0%
  • Wright State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cleveland State 0%
  • Wright State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cleveland State 3%
  • Wright State 4%
  • % International
  • Cleveland State 5%
  • Wright State 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cleveland State 2%
  • Wright State 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cleveland State 94%
  • Wright State 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cleveland State 6%
  • Wright State 4%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Cleveland State University in Cleveland, OH with Wright State University Main Campus in Dayton, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cleveland State University is larger than Wright State based on total student enrollment (14,074 students vs. 10,603 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting); Wright State University Main Campus is in Dayton, OH (Large Suburban setting).
  • Cleveland State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wright State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cleveland State University 16:1; Wright State University Main Campus 16:1.

Cleveland State vs. Wright State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland State or Wright State? 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 Wright State University Main Campus than Cleveland State ($15,254 vs. $16,230).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wright State University Main Campus are 25.5% lower than at Cleveland State University ($11,250 vs. $15,104).
  • Cleveland State University is 12.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wright State (about $1,466 more per year; $12,988.00 vs. $11,522.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.7% higher at Wright State than at Cleveland State University (about $2,712 more per year; $21,222.00 vs. $18,510.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wright State University Main Campus than at Cleveland State University (92% vs. 90%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland State University students is 9.5% larger than aid received by Wright State University Main Campus students ($9,795 vs. $8,942).

Cleveland State vs. Wright State Admissions comparison

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

  • Wright State University Main Campus reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wright State University Main Campus (1070) is 60 points higher than at Cleveland State (1010).
  • Incoming Cleveland State students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 21) as students at Wright State (21).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cleveland State University 880/1130; Wright State University Main Campus 913/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cleveland State University 18/25; Wright State University Main Campus 17/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cleveland State - Test-free; Wright State - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027; Wright State Aug 23, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wright State students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Cleveland State (3.31).
  • Wright State has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Cleveland State (91.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at Cleveland State vs. 20.4% at Wright State.

Cleveland State vs. Wright State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cleveland State and Wright State? 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).

  • Wright State University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (40%) is higher than Cleveland State University's (30%).
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn a median of about $800 more per year than Wright State graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,200 vs. $43,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cleveland State University graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Wright State graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cleveland State graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wright State graduates ($222 vs. $258).
  • More Wright State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (51% 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.