IU Northwest vs. Cleveland State

Deciding between Indiana University Northwest 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.

Indiana University Northwest
Cleveland State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Northwest Gary, IN
  • Cleveland State Cleveland, OH
  • Setting
  • IU Northwest Small City
  • Cleveland State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IU Northwest 3,041
  • Cleveland State 14,074
  • Type
  • IU Northwest Public 4 Year
  • Cleveland State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU Northwest #875
  • Cleveland State #784
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU Northwest -
  • Cleveland State -
  • Status
  • IU Northwest Non-profit
  • Cleveland State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU Northwest
  • Cleveland State
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU Northwest $8,424
  • Cleveland State $12,988
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU Northwest $22,811
  • Cleveland State $18,510
  • Room & Board
  • IU Northwest $10,972
  • Cleveland State $15,104
  • Average Net Price
  • IU Northwest $5,745
  • Cleveland State $16,230
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU Northwest $8,327
  • Cleveland State $9,795
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU Northwest 76%
  • Cleveland State 90%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU Northwest 2,928
  • Cleveland State 11,050
  • Admitted
  • IU Northwest 2,149
  • Cleveland State 10,089
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU Northwest 73.4%
  • Cleveland State 91.3%
  • Enrolled
  • IU Northwest 23.5%
  • Cleveland State 15.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU Northwest 1050
  • Cleveland State 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU Northwest 22
  • Cleveland State 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU Northwest 3.14
  • Cleveland State 3.31
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU Northwest B
  • Cleveland State B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Northwest Easy
  • Cleveland State Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU Northwest Low
  • Cleveland State
  • ACT Range
  • IU Northwest 18/26
  • Cleveland State 18/25
  • SAT Range
  • IU Northwest 910/1180
  • Cleveland State 880/1130
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Northwest Test optional
  • Cleveland State Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • IU Northwest
  • Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU Northwest 15:1
  • Cleveland State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU Northwest
    • Health Professions (33%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Cleveland State
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU Northwest 23%
  • Cleveland State 30%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU Northwest $39,500
  • Cleveland State $44,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU Northwest 33%
  • Cleveland State 47%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU Northwest $25,030
  • Cleveland State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU Northwest $258
  • Cleveland State $222
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU Northwest 27%
  • Cleveland State 45%
  • % Women
  • IU Northwest 73%
  • Cleveland State 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Northwest High
  • Cleveland State Medium
  • HBCU
  • IU Northwest No
  • Cleveland State No
  • % White
  • IU Northwest 55%
  • Cleveland State 64%
  • % Asian
  • IU Northwest 2%
  • Cleveland State 3%
  • % Black
  • IU Northwest 18%
  • Cleveland State 17%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU Northwest 20%
  • Cleveland State 5%
  • % Native American
  • IU Northwest 0%
  • Cleveland State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU Northwest 0%
  • Cleveland State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU Northwest 3%
  • Cleveland State 3%
  • % International
  • IU Northwest 0%
  • Cleveland State 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU Northwest 1%
  • Cleveland State 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU Northwest 95%
  • Cleveland State 94%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU Northwest 4%
  • Cleveland State 6%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Northwest in Gary, IN 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 IU Northwest based on total student enrollment (14,074 students vs. 3,041 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Northwest is located in Gary, IN (Small City setting); Cleveland State University is in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting).
  • Indiana University Northwest is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Cleveland State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Northwest 15:1; Cleveland State University 16:1.

IU Northwest vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU Northwest 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 Indiana University Northwest than Cleveland State ($5,745 vs. $16,230).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Northwest are 27.4% lower than at Cleveland State University ($10,972 vs. $15,104).
  • Cleveland State University is 54.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU Northwest (about $4,564 more per year; $12,988.00 vs. $8,424.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.2% higher at IU Northwest than at Cleveland State University (about $4,301 more per year; $22,811.00 vs. $18,510.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cleveland State University than at Indiana University Northwest (90% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland State University students is 17.6% larger than aid received by Indiana University Northwest students ($9,795 vs. $8,327).

IU Northwest vs. Cleveland State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU Northwest 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 IU Northwest.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University Northwest (1050) is 40 points higher than at Cleveland State (1010).
  • Incoming IU Northwest students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at Cleveland State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Northwest 910/1180; Cleveland State University 880/1130.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Northwest 18/26; Cleveland State University 18/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU Northwest - Test optional; Cleveland State - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cleveland State students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at IU Northwest (3.14).
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than IU Northwest (73.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.5% at IU Northwest vs. 15.7% at Cleveland State.

IU Northwest vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU Northwest 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).

  • Cleveland State University's six-year graduation rate (30%) is higher than Indiana University Northwest's (23%).
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than IU Northwest graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,200 vs. $39,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cleveland State University graduates have a $3,530 lower median loan debt than IU Northwest graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,030).
  • Among borrowers, Cleveland State graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IU Northwest graduates ($222 vs. $258).
  • More Cleveland State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU Northwest students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 33%)

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.