University of Akron vs. Cleveland State

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

University of Akron Cleveland State
Location Akron, OH Cleveland, OH
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 13,518 14,117
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #858 #780
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uakron.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Akron Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $10,399 $12,503
Tuition (Out of State) $14,839 $17,863
Room & Board $11,070 $14,760
Avg Net Price $15,292 $16,307
Avg Grant Aid $9,452 $10,148
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 88%

Admission

University of Akron Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,982 10,274
Admitted 10,624 9,810
Acceptance Rate 70.9%Open 95.5%
Enrolled % 19.7%Open 16.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.47 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/25 18/25
SAT Range 950/1190 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 1, 2026 Aug 15, 2026

Academics

University of Akron Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

University of Akron Cleveland State
Graduation Rate 38% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,100 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,500 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $263 $222

Diversity

University of Akron Cleveland State
% Men 7% 15%
% Women 9% 18%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 74% 64%
% Black 12% 17%
% Hispanic 2% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

University of Akron Cleveland State
% In-State 91% 85%
% Out-of-State 7% 7%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than University of Akron based on total student enrollment (14,117 students vs. 13,518 students)

University of Akron vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Akron or Cleveland State?

  • Cleveland State University is 20.2% more expensive to attend than University of Akron for in-state tuition ($12,503.00 vs. $10,399.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20.4% higher at Cleveland State than University of Akron Main Campus ($17,863.00 vs. $14,839.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Akron Main Campus than Cleveland State ($15,292 vs. $16,307)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Akron Main Campus are 33.3% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($11,070 vs. $14,760)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Akron Main Campus than Cleveland State University (94% vs. 88%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland State University students is 7.4% larger than aid received University of Akron Main Campus ($10,148 vs. $9,452)

University of Akron vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Akron Main Campus (1049) is 21 points higher than at Cleveland State (1028)
  • Incoming University of Akron students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Cleveland State (22)
  • Accepted freshman University of Akron students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than University of Akron (70.9%)

University of Akron vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Akron 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 University of Akron.

  • The graduation rate at University of Akron is higher than Cleveland State University (38% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $4,100 more per year than University of Akron graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $40,100)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Akron graduates. ($21,500 vs. $25,500)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than University of Akron graduates. ($222 vs. $263)
  • More Cleveland State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Akron students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 45%)

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