WSU vs. Cleveland State

Should I go to Wayne State University or Cleveland State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WSU 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Michigan State UM-Dearborn University of Dayton Oakland Kent State Detroit Mercy- UDM- U of D- University of Detroit Eastern Michigan University CMU Michigan GVSU WMU BGSU
Wayne State University vs. Cleveland State University comparison
Wayne State University Cleveland State University College 3 College 4
Wayne State University Cleveland State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 WSU Cleveland State
Location Detroit, MI Cleveland, OH
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 23,630 14,385
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #582 #769
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wayne.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WSU Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $12,933 $12,144
Tuition (Out of State) $29,622 $17,359
Room & Board $11,321 $14,197
Avg Net Price $15,347 $15,719
Avg Grant Aid $10,605 $9,436
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 91%

Admission

 WSU Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,002 11,570
Admitted 10,547 9,872
Acceptance Rate 75.3% 85.3%
Enrolled % 24.4% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 18/25
SAT Range 1040/1260 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, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 WSU Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 WSU Cleveland State
Graduation Rate 26% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,000 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 38% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,258 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $230 $222

Diversity

 WSU Cleveland State
% Men 40% 46%
% Women 60% 54%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 57% 64%
% Black 19% 17%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

 WSU Cleveland State
% In-State 93% 85%
% Out-of-State 3% 7%

Campus

 WSU 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

  • Wayne State University is larger than than Cleveland State based on total student enrollment (23,630 students vs. 14,385 students)

WSU vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSU or Cleveland State?

  • Wayne State University is 6.5% more expensive to attend than Cleveland State for in-state tuition ($12,933.00 vs. $12,144.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 70.6% higher at WSU than Cleveland State University ($29,622.00 vs. $17,359.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State University than Cleveland State ($15,347 vs. $15,719)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State University are 25.4% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($11,321 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wayne State University than Cleveland State University (96% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wayne State University students is 12.4% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($10,605 vs. $9,436)

WSU vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Wayne State University (1070) is 42 points higher than at Cleveland State (1028)
  • Incoming WSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Cleveland State (22)
  • Accepted freshman WSU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than WSU (75.3%)

WSU vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WSU 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 WSU.

  • The graduation rate at Cleveland State is higher than Wayne State University (30% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Wayne State University earn on average $6,800 more per year than Cleveland State graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $44,200)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $758 lower median federal student loan debt than WSU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $22,258)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than WSU graduates. ($222 vs. $230)
  • More Cleveland State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 38%)

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