Value signal
Lower net price
After typical aid, families pay below the national average.
This school$14.8k
National avg$18.5k
Source: IPEDS 2024
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Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH
Cleveland State University at a glance
Cleveland State University is a public university in Cleveland, Ohio with 14,074 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 91% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published in-state tuition is $12,988 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $14,764 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 51% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 74% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $21,797 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Clinical Laboratory Science, master's ($116,780) and Mechanical Engineering, master's ($106,560) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).
Tuition
$12,988
2024-25
Acceptance
91%
Fall 2024 applicants
Students
14,074
Fall 2024
Type
University
Setting
Urban
Cost & Financial Aid
In-State Tuition
$12,988
Out-of-State Tuition
$18,510
Avg On-Campus Living
$15,104
Avg Off-Campus Living
$15,090
Financial Aid & Outcomes
College Scorecard
What will it actually cost?
Sticker price: $28,092
Net price (after aid): $14,764
Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.
Net price by family income
$0 – $30k: $11,958
$30k – $48k: $13,561
$48k – $75k: $14,727
$75k – $110k: $15,690
$110k+: $20,378
Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)
At every income level reported here, the average net price is within the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow from the federal government for loans made from 1 July 2026.
The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.
After graduation
Median earnings (10yr): $52,131
Median debt at graduation: $21,797
Est. monthly loan payment: $231
Earnings-to-debt ratio
Moderate · 2.4×Graduates earn about 2.4× their median debt every year.
Financial access
Students on Pell Grants: 41%
Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.
Students with federal loans: 74%
Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.
Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.
How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.
FAFSA earnings check
: Not flaggedCleveland State University does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $64,669, above the $33,962 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in Ohio.
This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.
Student Outcomes
Graduation Rate
51%
Freshman Retention
70%
Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)
Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.
Scholarships available
Decision support · Cost & value
Quick Decision Highlights
The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.
Out-of-state value
$18.5k below avg
Strong aid for lower incomes
Reported net price for the $0–30k band runs below average.
Need-based aid friendly
41% above avg
Affordability snapshot
In-state tuition
$13k
Out-of-state
$18.5k
below avg
Net price
$14.8k
below avg
Pell
41%
above avg
Median debt
$21.8k
below avg
Earnings (10y)
$52.1k
“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.
Admissions
Acceptance rate
91%
SAT range
Institution does not report this
Institution does not report this
ACT range
Institution does not report this
Institution does not report this
Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)
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Location
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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school
Institution does not report this
Cleveland, OH 44115
Academics
Studying online: a substantial share study entirely online
In Fall 2023, 1,742 of Cleveland State University's 14,117 students (12%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 5,762 (41%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.
Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023
Fields of study
Cleveland State University reported conferring credentials in 97 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.
Campus & Student Life
Area Safety Rating
Decision support
Similar schools
Worth a closer look if Cleveland State University caught your interest.
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Bowling Green, OH
Tuition $14,460 81% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.Wright State University-Main Campus
Dayton, OH
Tuition $11,522 96% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.University of Akron Main Campus
Akron, OH
Tuition $13,135 60% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar size.University of Toledo
Toledo, OH
Tuition $12,744 92% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH
Tuition $11,113 84% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.Ohio University-Main Campus
Athens, OH
Tuition $14,158 85% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.
Graduate earnings by program
What Cleveland State University graduates earn, by program
Cleveland State University's bachelor's graduates in Psychology earned a median $46,090 four years after graduating, 9% below the $50,706 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $30,949; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $20,000 in federal loans at this college (about $212 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $25,000 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level).
75 programs at Cleveland State University have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology, Bachelor's | $46,090 | $50,706, −9% | $20,000 | $212/mo |
| Nursing (RN), Bachelor's | $82,201 | $88,910, −8% | $24,590 | $261/mo |
| Information Science, Master's | — | $112,705 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Master's | $101,635 | $103,485, about the same | $30,750 | $350/mo |
| Clinical Laboratory Science, Bachelor's | $55,038 | $75,975, −28% | $21,950 | $233/mo |
| Law, Professional degree | $91,229 | $107,773, −15% | $71,500 | $813/mo |
| Social Work, Master's | $58,916 | $65,123, −10% | $37,500 | $427/mo |
| Public Relations and Advertising, Bachelor's | $55,174 | $63,560, −13% | $21,500 | $228/mo |
| Biology, Bachelor's | $53,898 | $57,214, −6% | $20,750 | $220/mo |
| Marketing, Bachelor's | $61,829 | $69,303, −11% | $22,750 | $241/mo |
| Business Administration, Bachelor's | $58,930 | $68,257, −14% | $23,492 | $249/mo |
| Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor's | $85,184 | $92,135, −8% | $23,000 | $244/mo |
Compare what Psychology pays at other colleges
What the job pays locally
- Nursing (RN) graduates train as registered nurses: median $82,510 in Ohio.
- Law graduates train as lawyers: median $131,020 in Ohio.
- Mechanical Engineering graduates train as mechanical engineers: median $99,100 in Ohio.
- Accounting graduates train as accountants and auditors: median $79,320 in Ohio.
- Civil Engineering graduates train as civil engineers: median $96,220 in Ohio.
- Electrical Engineering graduates train as electrical engineers: median $100,620 in Ohio.
- Chemical Engineering graduates train as chemical engineers: median $111,200 in Ohio.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.
Show 63 more programs
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting, Bachelor's | $73,476 | $76,194, −4% | $20,661 | $219/mo |
| Criminology, Bachelor's | $52,713 | $55,556, −5% | $22,750 | $241/mo |
| Social Work, Bachelor's | $48,571 | $51,790, −6% | $25,000 | $265/mo |
| Film and Photography, Bachelor's | $37,745 | $43,765, −14% | $26,000 | $276/mo |
| Finance, Bachelor's | $73,669 | $83,343, −12% | $21,875 | $232/mo |
| Teacher Education (by grade level), Bachelor's | $43,424 | $47,382, −8% | $24,125 | $256/mo |
| Student Counseling, Master's | $54,706 | $60,111, −9% | $50,999 | $580/mo |
| Computer Science, Bachelor's | $100,385 | $107,009, −6% | $22,115 | $234/mo |
| Rehabilitation and Therapy, Professional degree | $74,579 | $81,641, −9% | $71,872 | $818/mo |
| Civil Engineering, Bachelor's | $73,575 | $86,517, −15% | $26,117 | $277/mo |
| Communication, Bachelor's | $48,688 | $56,359, −14% | $22,000 | $233/mo |
| Human Resources, Bachelor's | $65,203 | $68,069, −4% | $22,500 | $239/mo |
| Electrical Engineering, Master's | $115,285 | $133,654, −14% | — | — |
| Political Science, Bachelor's | $49,647 | $63,293, −22% | $20,375 | $216/mo |
| Mechanical Engineering, Master's | $106,560 | $115,974, −8% | — | — |
| Electrical Engineering, Bachelor's | $87,713 | $100,647, −13% | $25,500 | $270/mo |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Bachelor's | $67,214 | $61,911, +9% | $18,250 | $193/mo |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Bachelor's | $53,245 | $55,012, −3% | $19,038 | $202/mo |
| Teacher Education (by subject), Master's | $58,143 | $63,707, −9% | $32,587 | $371/mo |
| Urban Studies/Affairs, Bachelor's | $53,582 | $62,532, −14% | $25,000 | $265/mo |
| Chemical Engineering, Bachelor's | $81,185 | $98,158, −17% | $25,550 | $271/mo |
| Educational Administration, Master's | $70,853 | $71,685, about the same | $30,750 | $350/mo |
| English, Bachelor's | $41,767 | $48,590, −14% | $20,824 | $221/mo |
| Allied Health (diagnostic and treatment), Bachelor's | $83,938 | $70,786, +19% | $23,000 | $244/mo |
| Accounting, Master's | $89,792 | $95,833, −6% | $39,900 | $454/mo |
| Information Science, Bachelor's | $72,661 | $85,294, −15% | $24,812 | $263/mo |
| Computer Engineering, Bachelor's | $88,595 | $109,015, −19% | $24,228 | $257/mo |
| Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences, Master's | $63,455 | $67,030, −5% | $46,000 | $523/mo |
| Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences, Bachelor's | $51,540 | $58,928, −13% | $19,500 | $207/mo |
| Special Education, Master's | $54,537 | $64,397, −15% | $31,130 | $354/mo |
| History, Bachelor's | $42,859 | $50,680, −15% | $24,625 | $261/mo |
| Mathematics, Bachelor's | $58,346 | $69,562, −16% | $18,875 | $200/mo |
| Public Administration, Master's | $72,439 | $81,408, −11% | $27,000 | $307/mo |
| Management Science, Bachelor's | $67,614 | $86,176, −22% | $18,716 | $198/mo |
| Teacher Education (by grade level), Master's | $51,198 | $59,916, −15% | $43,024 | $489/mo |
| Educational Administration, Bachelor's | $41,308 | $47,433, −13% | $20,154 | $214/mo |
| Psychology, Master's | $64,167 | $64,711, about the same | $40,935 | $466/mo |
| Rehabilitation and Therapy, Master's | $64,255 | $71,416, −10% | $51,250 | $583/mo |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Master's | $57,641 | $62,033, −7% | $23,426 | $266/mo |
| Sociology, Bachelor's | $57,211 | $52,657, +9% | $23,000 | $244/mo |
| Design and Applied Arts, Bachelor's | $46,635 | $51,490, −9% | $26,875 | $285/mo |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, Bachelor's | — | $82,073 | — | — |
| Chemistry, Bachelor's | $63,541 | $65,120, about the same | $23,391 | $248/mo |
| Nursing (RN), Master's | $108,840 | $120,193, −9% | — | — |
| Music, Bachelor's | $29,842 | $42,892, −30% | $26,645 | $282/mo |
| Human Resources, Master's | — | $83,558 | — | — |
| Teacher Education (by subject), Bachelor's | $48,254 | $51,389, −6% | — | — |
| Economics, Bachelor's | $62,852 | $82,686, −24% | $19,750 | $209/mo |
| International Relations and National Security Studies, Bachelor's | $45,045 | $66,596, −32% | $22,960 | $243/mo |
| Fine and Studio Arts, Bachelor's | $36,603 | $41,367, −12% | $26,750 | $284/mo |
| Education, Doctoral | — | $87,373 | — | — |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Bachelor's | $88,732 | $84,599, +5% | — | — |
| Theatre, Bachelor's | $36,174 | $39,775, −9% | $23,781 | $252/mo |
| Community Organization and Advocacy, Master's | — | $67,597 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Bachelor's | $48,439 | $55,000, −12% | — | — |
| Anthropology, Bachelor's | $38,972 | $46,676, −17% | $20,000 | $212/mo |
| International Business, Bachelor's | $68,241 | $73,201, −7% | — | — |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Master's | — | $74,607 | — | — |
| Public Health, Master's | — | $82,751 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Master's | $94,556 | $106,375, −11% | — | — |
| Clinical Laboratory Science, Master's | $116,780 | $90,984, +28% | $58,960 | $671/mo |
| Computer and Information Sciences, Bachelor's | $86,337 | $92,374, −7% | $31,125 | $330/mo |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Master's | $58,518 | $65,184, −10% | $63,389 | $721/mo |
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026. Nursing graduates vs RN pay by state: the early-career benchmark.
Frequently asked questions
About Cleveland State University
Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.
- Where is Cleveland State University located?
- Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, OH, in the United States.
- What type of institution is Cleveland State University?
- Cleveland State University is a public university based in OH. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
- What is the acceptance rate at Cleveland State University?
- The most recently reported acceptance rate at Cleveland State University is approximately 91% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
- What is the tuition at Cleveland State University?
- Cleveland State University's published in-state tuition is approximately $12,988 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
- How many students attend Cleveland State University?
- Cleveland State University reports total enrollment of approximately 14,074 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
- How much does Cleveland State University actually cost after financial aid?
- The average net price at Cleveland State University is approximately $14,764 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $11,958 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $20,378. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
- What is the graduation rate at Cleveland State University?
- Cleveland State University reports a graduation rate of approximately 51% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
- How much student debt do graduates of Cleveland State University have?
- Students who borrowed at Cleveland State University left with a median of approximately $21,797 in federal loans, and about 74% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
- How much do graduates of Cleveland State University earn?
- Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $52,131 for students who received federal financial aid at Cleveland State University. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
- How should I verify final details about Cleveland State University?
- CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with Cleveland State University.
- How much do Psychology graduates from Cleveland State University earn?
- Cleveland State University's bachelor's graduates in Psychology earned a median $46,090 four years after graduating, 9% below the $50,706 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $30,949; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $20,000 in federal loans at this college (about $212 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $25,000 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level).
- How much do Nursing (RN) graduates from Cleveland State University earn?
- Cleveland State University's bachelor's graduates in Nursing (RN) earned a median $82,201 four years after graduating, 8% below the $88,910 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $66,764; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $24,590 in federal loans at this college (about $261 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $27,500 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level). For context, registered nurses in Ohio are paid a median $82,510 a year across all experience levels (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), a figure for everyone in the job, not only recent graduates.
- Which programs at Cleveland State University have the highest graduate earnings?
- Among the 50 programs at Cleveland State University with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Clinical Laboratory Science, master's ($116,780); Mechanical Engineering, master's ($106,560); and Business Administration, master's ($101,635) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
- Does Cleveland State University get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
- No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, Cleveland State University's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $64,669, above the $33,962 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in Ohio, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.
Fields this college awarded credentials in
The 14 largest of 97 fields Cleveland State University reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.
| Field | Awarded | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Information Science/Studies | 258 | Graduate (219 graduate · 39 bachelor's) |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 252 | Graduate (165 graduate · 87 bachelor's) |
| Computer Science | 217 | Graduate (163 graduate · 54 bachelor's) |
| Social Work | 209 | Graduate (155 graduate · 54 bachelor's) |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 198 | Graduate (17 graduate · 181 bachelor's) |
| Psychology, General | 180 | Bachelor's |
| Mechanical Engineering | 173 | Graduate (81 graduate · 92 bachelor's) |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 142 | Graduate (9 graduate · 133 bachelor's) |
| Law | 133 | Graduate |
| Marketing | 129 | Bachelor's (61 bachelor's · 68 certificate) |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 98 | Graduate (88 graduate · 10 bachelor's) |
| Accounting and Related Services | 94 | Graduate (19 graduate · 75 bachelor's) |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 93 | Graduate (22 graduate · 71 bachelor's) |
| Biology, General | 85 | Graduate (16 graduate · 69 bachelor's) |
Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Explore more
Compare colleges side by side. Other colleges in Cleveland, OH. All colleges in Ohio. Ohio college costs by family income. Student debt at Ohio colleges. Computer science in Ohio. Business major guide. Nursing in Ohio. Psychology in Ohio. Engineering in Ohio.
Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with Cleveland State University before applying.
Data sources & methodology
Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.
Facts on this profile of Cleveland State University are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2024). Cleveland State University, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/cleveland-state-university
About this information
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