GSU vs. Cleveland State

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

 GSU Cleveland State
Location University Park, IL Cleveland, OH
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 4,427 14,385
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #769
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website govst.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 GSU Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $7,512 $12,144
Tuition (Out of State) $15,024 $17,359
Room & Board $11,000 $14,197
Avg Net Price $9,833 $15,719
Avg Grant Aid $11,987 $9,436
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 91%

Admission

 GSU Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,865 11,570
Admitted 1,072 9,872
Acceptance Rate 57.5% 85.3%
Enrolled % 29.5% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.31
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/25
SAT Range 830/1060 880/1130
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 Apr 1, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 GSU Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 GSU Cleveland State
Graduation Rate - 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,600 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,250 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $178 $222

Diversity

 GSU Cleveland State
% Men 36% 46%
% Women 64% 54%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 36% 64%
% Black 38% 17%
% Hispanic 11% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 9% 2%

Students

 GSU Cleveland State
% In-State 95% 85%
% Out-of-State 3% 7%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than GSU based on total student enrollment (14,385 students vs. 4,427 students)

GSU vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GSU or Cleveland State?

  • Cleveland State University is 61.7% more expensive to attend than GSU for in-state tuition ($12,144.00 vs. $7,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.5% higher at Cleveland State than Governors State University ($17,359.00 vs. $15,024.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Governors State University than Cleveland State ($9,833 vs. $15,719)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Governors State University are 29.1% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($11,000 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Governors State University than Cleveland State University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Governors State University students is 27% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($11,987 vs. $9,436)

GSU vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Cleveland State University (1028) is 117 points higher than at GSU (911)
  • Incoming Cleveland State students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at GSU (19)
  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.69 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than GSU (57.5%)

GSU vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GSU or Cleveland State? 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 Cleveland State and GSU.

  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $1,600 more per year than GSU graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $42,600)
  • Governors State University students graduate with a $4,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Cleveland State graduates. ($17,250 vs. $21,500)
  • GSU graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Cleveland State graduates. ($178 vs. $222)
  • More GSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 47%)

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