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Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio · Public · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$14,764What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
91%
Graduation rate
50%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
8,969
In-state tuition
$12,988Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$18,510
SAT midpoint
1,035
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$52,131Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$14,764

Better than 49% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

50%

Better than 42% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$52,131

Better than 42% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$21,797

Better than 39% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$27,159

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$14,764

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Cleveland State University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time50%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return70%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$21,797
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$52,131

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Cleveland State University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Chemical Engineering$69,04332
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$68,87544
Computer Engineering$68,85231
Computer Science$68,28068
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$66,764211
Civil Engineering$66,29566
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians$66,04410
Mechanical Engineering$65,53183
Information Science/Studies$57,66124
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians$56,33220
Accounting and Related Services$54,08860
Finance and Financial Management Services$49,42563
Computer and Information Sciences, General$48,555Not reported
Chemistry$48,14717
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$47,04019
Business Administration, Management and Operations$46,70891
Economics$44,75915
Marketing$43,70679
Mathematics$41,16427
Human Resources Management and Services$40,86938
Urban Studies/Affairs$38,92929
Educational Administration and Supervision$38,76619
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$38,02799
Social Work$35,86963
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions$35,443142
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$34,83530
Sociology$34,49016
Music$32,88713
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$32,82365
Criminology$32,39369
International Relations and National Security Studies$31,43413
Psychology, General$30,949210
Communication and Media Studies$29,61845
History$29,53525
Biology, General$29,44085
English Language and Literature, General$28,64928
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$26,84534
Political Science and Government$26,20440
Design and Applied Arts$24,95920
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs$23,75532
Fine and Studio Arts$23,35212
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$22,26372
Anthropology$14,64710
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesNot reported28
Business/Commerce, GeneralNot reported25
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported14
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsNot reported13
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNot reported10
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessNot reported9
Social Sciences, GeneralNot reported9
PhilosophyNot reported9
Business/Managerial EconomicsNot reported8
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reported8
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesNot reported7
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported7
International BusinessNot reported6
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesNot reported6
Public AdministrationNot reported5
PhysicsNot reported4
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and AdministrationNot reported4
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported4
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported4
DanceNot reported4
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/TechniciansNot reported1
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported1
Real EstateNot reported1
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Special Education and TeachingNot reportedNot reported
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reportedNot reported
Community Organization and AdvocacyNot reportedNot reported
Social Sciences, OtherNot reportedNot reported

All 71 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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