Cleveland State University - Admission Requirements, SAT, ACT, GPA and chance of acceptance

Your chances of getting into Cleveland State University

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Percent Admitted

85.3%

Admission Difficulty for Cleveland State University
Measure	Difficulty
Admission Standards		Very Easy
Applicant Competition		Very Low

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Cleveland State is 85.3%. Its admission rate is the 50th lowest in Ohio.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Cleveland State and can you get accepted?

Cleveland State University is an easy school to get into and you have a very good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission criteria. Last year, 9,872 out of the 11,570 who applied were admitted.

Cleveland State University typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.31. 17% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into Cleveland State?

85% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to Cleveland State University you should:

Have a high school GPA of 3.31 or better
Earn B+ grades in high school
Score 1010 on the SAT
Score 21 on the ACT

Cleveland State GPA

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Avg. High School GPA

3.31*

Typical High School Grades

B+

What GPA do you need to get into Cleveland State University?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into Cleveland State are to have around a 3.31 high school GPA. You are required to have above average high school grades.

If your high school grades are above the average 3.31 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as Cleveland State accepts 85% of applicants.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at Cleveland State is 3.31 on the 4.0 scale. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn B+ letter grades and regularly score around 87-89 percent on tests and assignments in high school. The school ranks #50 in Ohio for highest average GPA.

Importance of GPA

Since Cleveland State is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.3 GPA range.

*This school has not published high school GPA data for its incoming freshman class. In these cases, CollegeSimply uses an algorithm to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of college GPA data. 3.31 is a prediction of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.

Calculate My Chances

Cleveland State SAT Scores

Testing Requirements

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Cleveland State University. If you optionally submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 21% of students submitted SAT scores and 40% submitted ACT scores for admission for the most recent academic year..

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Range

880-1130

Applicants Submitting SAT

21%

SAT Scores for Cleveland State University
SAT Test	25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile	450
Math 25th Percentile	430
Composite 25th Percentile	880

SAT Scores for Cleveland State University
SAT Test	75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile	570
Math 75th Percentile	560
Composite 75th Percentile	1130
Average SAT Score	1010

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to Cleveland State University?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at Cleveland State is 1010 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 880-1130. Students who get into Cleveland State University score in the top 81 percent of all SAT test takers.. Cleveland State ranks #39 in the state of Ohio for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1010 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. Cleveland State regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 880 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 880, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 750, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

Cleveland State University is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1010 SAT score range.

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1005, you have around a 85% chance of being admitted. A 1130 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 92% chance of getting in.

Cleveland State University admission chances by SAT score
SAT Score (1600 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
1130 and Above	Good	>92%
1005 to 1130	Avg +	85%-92%
880 to 1005	Avg -	75%-85%
755 to 880	Reach	61%-75%
Less than 755	Low	<61%

Calculate My Chances

Cleveland State ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range

18-25

Applicants Submitting ACT

40%

ACT Scores for Cleveland State University
ACT Test	25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile	16
Math 25th Percentile	16
Composite 25th Percentile	18

ACT Scores for Cleveland State University
ACT Test	75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile	24
Math 75th Percentile	25
Composite 75th Percentile	25
Average ACT Score	21

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into Cleveland State?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to Cleveland State is 21, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 18 and 25. The school ranks #32 in Ohio for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 21. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 18 and score in the score in the top 62 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 14.

40 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Cleveland State University.

Score Submission Requirements

You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as Cleveland State University is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into Cleveland State for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 21 score has around 85% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 92% with a 25 ACT score.

Cleveland State University admission chances by ACT score
ACT Score	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
25 and Above	Good	>92%
21 to 25	Avg +	85%-92%
18 to 21	Avg -	77%-85%
15 to 18	Reach	65%-77%
Less than 15	Low	<65%

Calculate My Chances

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Cleveland State University admission statistics
	Women	Men	Total
Applied	6,877	3,567	11,570
Accepted	6,619	3,245	9,872
Acceptance Rate	96%	91%	85%
Enrolled	1,042	610	1,654
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield)	16%	19%	17%

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Fall 2025 Application Deadline

Applications Due

Aug 15, 2025

Days left to Apply

233

Applicants have 233 days left until the Fall 2025 term applications are due on Aug 15, 2025.

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Cleveland State University is $0. The school is free to apply to.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Cleveland State University and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Cleveland State University Application Requirements
Test Scores	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
High School GPA	Required to be considered for admission
High School Class Rank	Not considered for admission, even if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program	Required to be considered for admission
Recommendations	Not considered for admission, even if submitted
Demonstration of Competencies	Not considered for admission, even if submitted

Credits Accepted

High School Credits Accepted at Cleveland State University
AP Credit	Yes
Dual Credit	Yes
Credit for Life Experiences	Yes

Admission Requirements Summary

Because Cleveland State University is lightly competitive to get into, you have a very good chance of acceptance with the right GPA and test scores. If you have a 3.31 GPA, you are almost certain to getting in. Combining this with an SAT score of 1010 and ACT of 21 will almost guarantee your admission.