WMU vs. Cleveland State

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

 WMU Cleveland State
Location Kalamazoo, MI Cleveland, OH
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 17,000 14,385
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #634 #769
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wmich.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WMU Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $14,523 $12,144
Tuition (Out of State) $18,154 $17,359
Room & Board $11,102 $14,197
Avg Net Price $20,030 $15,719
Avg Grant Aid $6,813 $9,436
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 91%

Admission

 WMU Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,501 11,570
Admitted 17,334 9,872
Acceptance Rate 84.6% 85.3%
Enrolled % 15.1% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/27 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, 2025

Academics

 WMU Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 WMU Cleveland State
Graduation Rate 56% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,900 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,633 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $275 $222

Diversity

 WMU Cleveland State
% Men 47% 46%
% Women 53% 54%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 72% 64%
% Black 12% 17%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 4% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 WMU Cleveland State
% In-State 79% 85%
% Out-of-State 19% 7%

Campus

 WMU 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

  • Western Michigan University is larger than than Cleveland State based on total student enrollment (17,000 students vs. 14,385 students)

WMU vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WMU or Cleveland State?

  • Western Michigan University is 19.6% more expensive to attend than Cleveland State for in-state tuition ($14,523.00 vs. $12,144.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.6% higher at WMU than Cleveland State University ($18,154.00 vs. $17,359.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cleveland State University than WMU ($15,719 vs. $20,030)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 27.9% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($11,102 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Michigan University than Cleveland State University (93% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland State University students is 38.5% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($9,436 vs. $6,813)

WMU vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Michigan University (1030) is 2 points higher than at Cleveland State (1028)
  • Incoming WMU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Cleveland State (22)
  • Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than WMU (84.6%)

WMU vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WMU 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 WMU.

  • The graduation rate at WMU is higher than Cleveland State University (56% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Western Michigan University earn on average $4,700 more per year than Cleveland State graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $44,200)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $5,133 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,633)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $53 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($222 vs. $275)
  • More WMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 47%)

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