CCS vs. Cleveland State

Deciding between College for Creative Studies and Cleveland 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.

College for Creative Studies
Cleveland State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CCS Detroit, MI
  • Cleveland State Cleveland, OH
  • Setting
  • CCS Large City
  • Cleveland State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • CCS 1,433
  • Cleveland State 14,074
  • Type
  • CCS Private 4 Year
  • Cleveland State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CCS
  • Cleveland State #784
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CCS -
  • Cleveland State -
  • Status
  • CCS Non-profit
  • Cleveland State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CCS
  • Cleveland State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CCS $53,350
  • Cleveland State $12,988
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CCS $53,350
  • Cleveland State $18,510
  • Room & Board
  • CCS $15,272
  • Cleveland State $15,104
  • Average Net Price
  • CCS $36,055
  • Cleveland State $16,230
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CCS $30,108
  • Cleveland State $9,795
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CCS 98%
  • Cleveland State 90%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CCS 1,079
  • Cleveland State 11,050
  • Admitted
  • CCS 992
  • Cleveland State 10,089
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CCS 91.9%
  • Cleveland State 91.3%
  • Enrolled
  • CCS 24.9%
  • Cleveland State 15.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CCS
  • Cleveland State 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • CCS
  • Cleveland State 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • CCS 3.19
  • Cleveland State 3.31
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CCS B+
  • Cleveland State B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CCS Unavailable
  • Cleveland State Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • CCS
  • Cleveland State
  • ACT Range
  • CCS
  • Cleveland State 18/25
  • SAT Range
  • CCS
  • Cleveland State 880/1130
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CCS Test-free
  • Cleveland State Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • CCS
  • Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CCS 10:1
  • Cleveland State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CCS
    • Visual and Performing Arts (87%)
    • Communications Technology (13%)
  • Cleveland State
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CCS 57%
  • Cleveland State 30%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CCS $46,100
  • Cleveland State $44,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CCS 60%
  • Cleveland State 47%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CCS $27,000
  • Cleveland State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CCS $279
  • Cleveland State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CCS 34%
  • Cleveland State 45%
  • % Women
  • CCS 66%
  • Cleveland State 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CCS Medium
  • Cleveland State Medium
  • HBCU
  • CCS No
  • Cleveland State No
  • % White
  • CCS 58%
  • Cleveland State 64%
  • % Asian
  • CCS 4%
  • Cleveland State 3%
  • % Black
  • CCS 10%
  • Cleveland State 17%
  • % Hispanic
  • CCS 4%
  • Cleveland State 5%
  • % Native American
  • CCS 0%
  • Cleveland State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CCS 0%
  • Cleveland State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CCS 4%
  • Cleveland State 3%
  • % International
  • CCS 7%
  • Cleveland State 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CCS 11%
  • Cleveland State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CCS 78%
  • Cleveland State 94%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CCS 19%
  • Cleveland State 6%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI with Cleveland State University in Cleveland, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cleveland State University is larger than CCS based on total student enrollment (14,074 students vs. 1,433 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • College for Creative Studies is located in Detroit, MI (Large City setting); Cleveland State University is in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting).
  • College for Creative Studies is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cleveland State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College for Creative Studies 10:1; Cleveland State University 16:1.

CCS vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CCS or Cleveland 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 Cleveland State University than CCS ($16,230 vs. $36,055).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cleveland State University are 1.1% lower than at College for Creative Studies ($15,104 vs. $15,272).
  • College for Creative Studies is 310.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cleveland State (about $40,362 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $12,988.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 188.2% higher at CCS than at Cleveland State University (about $34,840 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $18,510.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College for Creative Studies than at Cleveland State University (98% vs. 90%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College for Creative Studies students is 207.4% larger than aid received by Cleveland State University students ($30,108 vs. $9,795).

CCS vs. Cleveland State Admissions comparison

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

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCleveland State University 880/1130.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCleveland State University 18/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CCS - Test-free; Cleveland State - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cleveland State students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at CCS (3.19).
  • CCS has a higher acceptance rate (91.9%) than Cleveland State (91.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.9% at CCS vs. 15.7% at Cleveland State.

CCS vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CCS and Cleveland 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).

  • College for Creative Studies's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Cleveland State University's (30%).
  • Graduates from College for Creative Studies earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than Cleveland State graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 vs. $44,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cleveland State University graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than CCS graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cleveland State graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CCS graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More CCS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (60% 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.