Lewis University vs. Cleveland State

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

 Lewis University Cleveland State
Location Romeoville, IL Cleveland, OH
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 6,636 14,117
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #446 #780
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lewisu.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Lewis University Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $37,592 $12,503
Tuition (Out of State) $37,592 $17,863
Room & Board $12,140 $14,760
Avg Net Price $19,472 $16,307
Avg Grant Aid $26,606 $10,148
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 88%

Admission

 Lewis University Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,291 10,274
Admitted 3,848 9,810
Acceptance Rate 72.7% 95.5%
Enrolled % 16.1% 16.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/26 18/25
SAT Range 990/1220 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 Aug 15, 2026

Academics

 Lewis University Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Transportation and Materials Moving (9%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 Lewis University Cleveland State
Graduation Rate 63% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,500 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,625 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $254 $222

Diversity

 Lewis University Cleveland State
% Men 19% 15%
% Women 21% 18%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 64% 64%
% Black 6% 17%
% Hispanic 19% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 Lewis University Cleveland State
% In-State 82% 85%
% Out-of-State 14% 7%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than Lewis University based on total student enrollment (14,117 students vs. 6,636 students)

Lewis University vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

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

  • Lewis University is 200.7% more expensive to attend than Cleveland State for in-state tuition ($37,592.00 vs. $12,503.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 110.4% higher at Lewis University than Cleveland State University ($37,592.00 vs. $17,863.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cleveland State University than Lewis University ($16,307 vs. $19,472)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lewis University are 21.6% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($12,140 vs. $14,760)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lewis University than Cleveland State University (100% vs. 88%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lewis University students is 162.2% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($26,606 vs. $10,148)

Lewis University vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Lewis University (1051) is 23 points higher than at Cleveland State (1028)
  • Incoming Lewis University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Cleveland State (22)
  • Accepted freshman Lewis University students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than Lewis University (72.7%)

Lewis University vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lewis University 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 Lewis University.

  • The graduation rate at Lewis University is higher than Cleveland State University (63% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Lewis University earn on average $7,300 more per year than Cleveland State graduates after ten years. ($51,500 vs. $44,200)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $3,125 lower median federal student loan debt than Lewis University graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,625)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than Lewis University graduates. ($222 vs. $254)
  • More Lewis University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 47%)

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