WestConn vs. Cleveland State

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

 WestConn Cleveland State
Location Danbury, CT Cleveland, OH
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 4,137 14,117
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #506 #780
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wcsu.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WestConn Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $6,664 $12,503
Tuition (Out of State) $9,996 $17,863
Room & Board $15,131 $14,760
Avg Net Price $16,527 $16,307
Avg Grant Aid $7,943 $10,148
% Receiving Grant Aid 63% 88%

Admission

 WestConn Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,457 10,274
Admitted 4,440 9,810
Acceptance Rate 81.4% 95.5%
Enrolled % 16% 16.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.38 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 18/25
SAT Range 840/1150 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

 WestConn Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 WestConn Cleveland State
Graduation Rate 40% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,400 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $222

Diversity

 WestConn Cleveland State
% Men 4% 15%
% Women 10% 18%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 61% 64%
% Black 12% 17%
% Hispanic 18% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 WestConn Cleveland State
% In-State 71% 85%
% Out-of-State 29% 7%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than WestConn based on total student enrollment (14,117 students vs. 4,137 students)

WestConn vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WestConn or Cleveland State?

  • Cleveland State University is 87.6% more expensive to attend than WestConn for in-state tuition ($12,503.00 vs. $6,664.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 78.7% higher at Cleveland State than Western Connecticut State University ($17,863.00 vs. $9,996.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cleveland State University than WestConn ($16,307 vs. $16,527)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cleveland State University are 2.5% lower than costs at Western Connecticut State University ($14,760 vs. $15,131)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cleveland State University than Western Connecticut State University (88% vs. 63%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland State University students is 27.8% larger than aid received Western Connecticut State University ($10,148 vs. $7,943)

WestConn vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman WestConn students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.38) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than WestConn (81.4%)

WestConn vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WestConn 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 WestConn.

  • The graduation rate at WestConn is higher than Cleveland State University (40% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Western Connecticut State University earn on average $3,200 more per year than Cleveland State graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $44,200)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than WestConn graduates. ($21,500 vs. $25,000)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than WestConn graduates. ($222 vs. $258)
  • More WestConn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 47%)

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