Cleveland State University
Tuition, net price, acceptance rate, graduation rate, and graduate salary · Cleveland, Ohio
Net price / year
$14,764
after grants & scholarships
higher than 59% of public 4-year colleges
Acceptance rate
91%
Graduation rate
50%
within 150% of normal time
higher than 53% of public 4-year colleges
Median earnings
$61,322
4 years after graduating
higher than 59% of public 4-year colleges
Cleveland State University at a glance
- What is the tuition at Cleveland State University?
- In-state undergraduate tuition and fees are $12,988 for the 2024-25 academic year, or $18,510 for out-of-state students.
- What is the cost of attendance at Cleveland State University?
- The average cost of attendance is $27,159 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
- What is the net price at Cleveland State University?
- The average net price for in-state students is $14,764 a year after grants and scholarships (2023-24).
- What is the acceptance rate at Cleveland State University?
- About 91% of applicants were admitted (fall 2024).
- Is Cleveland State University test optional?
- Test policy reported to the federal government: Tests neither required nor recommended.
- What is the graduation rate at Cleveland State University?
- 50% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
- How much do graduates of Cleveland State University earn?
- The median graduate earns $61,322 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).
Key takeaways
- The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 2.3 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
- Families earning under $30,000 pay about $11,958 a year on average, versus $20,378 for families earning over $110,000.
- The school admits 91% of applicants, so most who apply are accepted.
- One year into repayment, 14% of federal-loan borrowers had paid in full or were making progress on their balance (6,810 borrowers).
- Graduates earn a median $61,322 four years after finishing.
Tuition and cost of attendance at Cleveland State University
Average net price (in-state)
$14,764 per year
Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.
Estimate your own price with the Cleveland State University net price calculator ↗
Estimated total net cost
$59,056
Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.
Net price by family income
Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k $11,958
- $30–48k $13,561
- $48–75k $14,727
- $75–110k $15,690
- $110k+ $20,378
Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $27,159
- Tuition & fees$12,988
- Books & supplies$1,000
- Room & board$15,104
- Other expenses$3,700
- Tuition & fees (in-state)
- $12,988
- Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
- $18,510
Cleveland State University acceptance rate and admissions
Acceptance rate
Share of applicants admitted.
Test policy: Tests neither required nor recommended
Graduation rate and salary after graduating from Cleveland State University
Graduation rate
50%
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.
Retention rate
70%
Full-time first-years who return the next fall.
Typical monthly payment
$231
On a standard 10-year federal plan.
Years of earnings premium to cover cost
2.3 years
Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.
Earnings vs debt
Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.
- Debt-to-earnings
- 0.4×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
- Share of pay going to loans
- 4.5%
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Outcomes by student group
The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.
Completion within 150% of normal time, by group
Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).
All students, same entering cohort: 51%
Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).
Earnings ten years after entry
All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.
Typical range: middle half of students
25th percentile $33,018 · median $52,131 · 75th percentile $74,241
Median by family income
Median by sex
This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.
Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).
Median federal student debt, by group
Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.
By Pell Grant status
By first-generation status
By family income
By gender
Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).
How borrowers are doing
One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 6,810 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.
Repayment status one year after entering repayment
- Paid in full 7%
- Making progress 7%
- Not making progress 13%
- Delinquent 2%
- Default 0%
- Forbearance 54%
- Deferment 15%
- Discharged 0%
What the terms mean
- Paid in full:
- The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
- Making progress:
- Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
- Not making progress:
- The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
- Delinquent:
- Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
- Default:
- The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
- Forbearance:
- Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
- Deferment:
- Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
- Discharged:
- The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.
6,810 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).
Programs and majors at Cleveland State University ranked by earnings
| Program | Earnings, 4 yrs after | Earnings over time | Compared with the U.S. median for this field | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 27 Small sample | $100,385 | 1 yr$68,2804 yrs$100,385 | U.S. median $107,009 U.S. middle half $74.8K–$152K · Below the U.S. median | $22,115 |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians Bachelor's · Graduates: 17 Small sample | $88,732 | 1 yr$66,0444 yrs$88,732 | U.S. median $84,599 U.S. middle half $63.6K–$107.4K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 25 Small sample | $88,595 | 1 yr$68,8524 yrs$88,5955 yrs$78,588 | U.S. median $109,015 U.S. middle half $86.3K–$145.2K · Below the U.S. median | $24,228 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 47 | $87,713 | 1 yr$68,8754 yrs$87,7135 yrs$94,009 | U.S. median $100,647 U.S. middle half $84.6K–$122.4K · Below the U.S. median | $25,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 46 | $86,337 | 1 yr$48,5554 yrs$86,3375 yrs$100,089 | U.S. median $92,374 U.S. middle half $64.2K–$128.2K · Below the U.S. median | $31,125 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 137 | $85,184 | 1 yr$65,5314 yrs$85,1845 yrs$83,818 | U.S. median $92,135 U.S. middle half $77.7K–$109.1K · Below the U.S. median | $23,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Bachelor's · Graduates: 35 | $83,938 | 1 yr$26,8454 yrs$83,9385 yrs$90,920 | U.S. median $70,786 U.S. middle half $50.9K–$95.9K · Above the U.S. median | $23,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's · Graduates: 232 | $82,201 | 1 yr$66,7644 yrs$82,2015 yrs$67,850 | U.S. median $88,910 U.S. middle half $67.9K–$114.5K · Below the U.S. median | $24,590 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 60 | $81,185 | 1 yr$69,0434 yrs$81,1855 yrs$84,127 | U.S. median $98,158 U.S. middle half $80.3K–$118K · Below the U.S. median | $25,550 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 106 | $73,669 | 1 yr$49,4254 yrs$73,6695 yrs$76,073 | U.S. median $83,343 U.S. middle half $60.8K–$111.5K · Below the U.S. median | $21,875 |
Show all 47 programs
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 41 | $73,575 | 1 yr$66,2954 yrs$73,5755 yrs$72,837 | U.S. median $86,517 U.S. middle half $73.9K–$101.2K · Below the U.S. median | $26,117 |
| Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 126 | $73,476 | 1 yr$54,0884 yrs$73,4765 yrs$75,073 | U.S. median $76,194 U.S. middle half $56.2K–$97.2K · Below the U.S. median | $20,661 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 55 | $72,661 | 1 yr$57,6614 yrs$72,661 | U.S. median $85,294 U.S. middle half $59.8K–$116.9K · Below the U.S. median | $24,812 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 19 Small sample | $68,241 | — | U.S. median $73,201 U.S. middle half $51.3K–$98.8K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Bachelor's · Graduates: 41 | $67,614 | 1 yr$47,0404 yrs$67,6145 yrs$68,126 | U.S. median $86,176 U.S. middle half $61.8K–$114.7K · Below the U.S. median | $18,716 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs Bachelor's · Graduates: 61 | $67,214 | 1 yr$23,7554 yrs$67,2145 yrs$59,581 | U.S. median $61,911 U.S. middle half $42.7K–$83.4K · Above the U.S. median | $18,250 |
| Human Resources Management and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 81 | $65,203 | 1 yr$40,8694 yrs$65,203 | U.S. median $68,069 U.S. middle half $50.2K–$90.6K · Below the U.S. median | $22,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 31 | $63,541 | 1 yr$48,1474 yrs$63,5415 yrs$65,091 | U.S. median $65,120 U.S. middle half $48.3K–$84K · Below the U.S. median | $23,391 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 35 | $62,852 | 1 yr$44,7594 yrs$62,8525 yrs$66,265 | U.S. median $82,686 U.S. middle half $58.2K–$116.3K · Below the U.S. median | $19,750 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 108 | $61,829 | 1 yr$43,7064 yrs$61,8295 yrs$56,886 | U.S. median $69,303 U.S. middle half $49.7K–$93.2K · Below the U.S. median | $22,750 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's · Graduates: 110 | $58,930 | 1 yr$46,7084 yrs$58,9305 yrs$60,137 | U.S. median $68,257 U.S. middle half $47.6K–$93.6K · Below the U.S. median | $23,492 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 36 | $58,346 | 1 yr$41,1644 yrs$58,3465 yrs$61,553 | U.S. median $69,562 U.S. middle half $49.1K–$97.4K · Below the U.S. median | $18,875 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 54 | $57,211 | 1 yr$34,4904 yrs$57,2115 yrs$42,169 | U.S. median $52,657 U.S. middle half $37.7K–$69.5K · Above the U.S. median | $23,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Bachelor's · Graduates: 188 | $55,174 | 1 yr$38,0274 yrs$55,1745 yrs$52,698 | U.S. median $63,560 U.S. middle half $45.9K–$83.7K · Below the U.S. median | $21,500 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions Bachelor's · Graduates: 205 | $55,038 | 1 yr$35,4434 yrs$55,038 | U.S. median $75,975 U.S. middle half $60.9K–$92.3K · Below the U.S. median | $21,950 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 86 | $53,898 | 1 yr$29,4404 yrs$53,8985 yrs$49,572 | U.S. median $57,214 U.S. middle half $38.9K–$79.2K · Below the U.S. median | $20,750 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs Bachelor's · Graduates: 64 | $53,582 | 1 yr$38,9294 yrs$53,5825 yrs$48,869 | U.S. median $62,532 U.S. middle half $43.6K–$81.7K · Below the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research Bachelor's · Graduates: 36 | $53,245 | 1 yr$34,8354 yrs$53,2455 yrs$49,911 | U.S. median $55,012 U.S. middle half $39.4K–$72.8K · Below the U.S. median | $19,038 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 106 | $52,713 | 1 yr$32,3934 yrs$52,7135 yrs$52,416 | U.S. median $55,556 U.S. middle half $41K–$73.1K · Below the U.S. median | $22,750 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 33 | $51,540 | 4 yrs$51,5405 yrs$52,496 | U.S. median $58,928 U.S. middle half $45K–$73K · Below the U.S. median | $19,500 |
| Political Science and Government Bachelor's · Graduates: 43 | $49,647 | 1 yr$26,2044 yrs$49,6475 yrs$55,974 | U.S. median $63,293 U.S. middle half $44.8K–$85.4K · Below the U.S. median | $20,375 |
| Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 92 | $48,688 | 1 yr$29,6184 yrs$48,6885 yrs$49,186 | U.S. median $56,359 U.S. middle half $39.6K–$76.1K · Below the U.S. median | $22,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 124 | $48,571 | 1 yr$35,8694 yrs$48,5715 yrs$42,429 | U.S. median $51,790 U.S. middle half $39.2K–$64.2K · Below the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $48,439 | — | U.S. median $55,000 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$73.3K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample | $48,254 | — | U.S. median $51,389 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$63.1K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 37 | $46,635 | 1 yr$24,9594 yrs$46,6355 yrs$45,790 | U.S. median $51,490 U.S. middle half $33K–$70.6K · Below the U.S. median | $26,875 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 298 | $46,090 | 1 yr$30,9494 yrs$46,0905 yrs$41,670 | U.S. median $50,706 U.S. middle half $35.7K–$67.2K · Below the U.S. median | $20,000 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 23 Small sample | $45,045 | 1 yr$31,4344 yrs$45,045 | U.S. median $66,596 U.S. middle half $46K–$87.8K · Below the U.S. median | $22,960 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Bachelor's · Graduates: 106 | $43,424 | 1 yr$32,8234 yrs$43,4245 yrs$43,995 | U.S. median $47,382 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$56.1K · Below the U.S. median | $24,125 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 27 Small sample | $42,859 | 1 yr$29,5354 yrs$42,859 | U.S. median $50,680 U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.7K · Below the U.S. median | $24,625 |
| English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 72 | $41,767 | 1 yr$28,6494 yrs$41,7675 yrs$38,489 | U.S. median $48,590 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$63.8K · Below the U.S. median | $20,824 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision Bachelor's · Graduates: 29 Small sample | $41,308 | 1 yr$38,7664 yrs$41,3085 yrs$46,660 | U.S. median $47,433 U.S. middle half $35.9K–$59.7K · Below the U.S. median | $20,154 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $38,972 | 1 yr$14,6474 yrs$38,9725 yrs$32,927 | U.S. median $46,676 U.S. middle half $32.1K–$63.9K · Below the U.S. median | $20,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts Bachelor's · Graduates: 66 | $37,745 | 1 yr$22,2634 yrs$37,7455 yrs$38,453 | U.S. median $43,765 U.S. middle half $26K–$63.4K · Below the U.S. median | $26,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 20 Small sample | $36,603 | 1 yr$23,3524 yrs$36,6035 yrs$25,265 | U.S. median $41,367 U.S. middle half $26.2K–$56.7K · Below the U.S. median | $26,750 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Bachelor's · Graduates: 24 Small sample | $36,174 | — | U.S. median $39,775 U.S. middle half $25.5K–$55.4K · Below the U.S. median | $23,781 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 23 Small sample | $29,842 | 1 yr$32,8874 yrs$29,842 | U.S. median $42,892 U.S. middle half $26K–$58.8K · Below the U.S. median | $26,645 |
Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.
The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.
The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.
Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.
What students study
The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.
Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field
A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).
Who attends
A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Race and ethnicity
- White 55.9%
- Black or African American 17.7%
- Hispanic or Latino 9.5%
- Asian 4%
- American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0%
- Two or more races 4.6%
- U.S. nonresident 6%
- Race and ethnicity unknown 1.9%
Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Gender
- Men 46.5%
- Women 53.5%
Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Students aged 25 or older
19%
of undergraduates
Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).
Students and campus
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 8,969
- Part-time students
- 17%
- Receive Pell Grants
- 41%
- Receive federal loans
- 74%
- Students per faculty member
- 16 : 1
- Setting
- City
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Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at Cleveland State University?
For the 2024-25 academic year, Cleveland State University reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $12,988 for in-state students and $18,510 for out-of-state students. These are published prices before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.
What is the cost of attendance and net price at Cleveland State University?
The average cost of attendance at Cleveland State University is $27,159 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $14,764 a year. That is around the middle of public 4-year colleges.
How much financial aid do students at Cleveland State University get?
41% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 74% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $11,958 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $20,378 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at Cleveland State University?
Cleveland State University admitted about 91% of applicants in fall 2024. That means most applicants are admitted.
What are the graduation rate and retention rate at Cleveland State University?
50% of first-time, full-time students at Cleveland State University finish within 150% of normal time. 70% of full-time first-years return the next fall.
How much do Cleveland State University graduates earn after graduation?
The median graduate earns $61,322 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $43,332.
Is Cleveland State University worth it?
There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For Cleveland State University, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 2.3 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $21,797, about 0.4 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 50% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.
How much debt do Cleveland State University graduates have?
Graduates who borrowed have a median federal-loan debt of $21,797, or about $231 a month on a 10-year plan.
Sources and data periods
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:
- Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
- Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things