Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Cleveland State University is a public national university located in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland State University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Cleveland State University is in the bottom 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $46,422 10 years after enrolling, 50th in Ohio, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Cleveland State University bachelor students earn 9% less than the national average. Cleveland State University is ranked 20th in Ohio.
Cleveland State University’s median net annual cost of $16,943 and average years to graduate of 4.7 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Cleveland State University sorted by number of graduates - Registered Nursing, Psychology, Medical Allied Professions, Advertising & PR, Mechanical Engineering, Biology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$16,943
Average years to graduate
4.7
Chemical Engineering
Rank: #79
Economic score: 1.75
Civil Engineering
Rank: #106
Economic score: 2.04
Accounting
Rank: #279
Economic score: 2.69
Finance
Rank: #229
Economic score: 3.2
Business Administration
Rank: #510
Economic score: 4.15
HR Management
Rank: #88
Economic score: 4.41
Marketing
Rank: #298
Economic score: 5.39
Criminology
Rank: #41
Economic score: 5.56
Education
Rank: #297
Economic score: 6.42
Social Work
Rank: #205
Economic score: 8.99
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Cleveland State University - Business Administration, Social Work, Student Counseling, Therapeutic professions, Accounting, Mechanical Engineering - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Electrical Engineering
Rank: #22
Economic score: 0.3
Registered Nursing
Rank: #273
Economic score: 0.52
Educ. Administration
Rank: #248
Economic score: 0.6
Public Administration
Rank: #99
Economic score: 0.62
Education (subject specific)
Rank: #108
Economic score: 0.65
Special Education
Rank: #212
Economic score: 0.84
Communication disorder sciences
Rank: #183
Economic score: 0.98
Psychology
Rank: #170
Economic score: 1.05
Education
Rank: #337
Economic score: 1.35
Community Org & Advocacy
Rank: #6
Economic score: 1.49
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.7 years. 54% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Cleveland State University is 6% lower than the state average, and 13% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At Cleveland State University, Pell Grant recipients represent 38% of the measured graduating class, 3% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Cleveland State University graduates within 4.7 years.
Cleveland State University is in the top 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Cleveland State University’s economic mobility score of 19.62 is calculated by adjusting the 3.59 economic score of lower-income students by the 38% pell grant recipients within the student body. Cleveland State University’s EMS of 19.62 ranks in the top 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Cleveland State University pays $16,943 a year, $11,502 less than the $28,445 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $16,943
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Cleveland State University, 92% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $16,943 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 49% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,041. This is 5% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,037
Pell grants
$4,797
State grants
$2,516
Institutional grants
$5,790
Cleveland State University offers 5 online bachelor programs, one of which is held exclusively online. At the master’s level Cleveland State University offers 8 programs, 5 of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
13
Hybrid programs
7
Percentage of programs online
9%
Cleveland State University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 91% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 11,506 applicants, of which 10,504 were admitted and 1,869 enrolled. Cleveland State University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
82%
83%
Female
59%
59%
First time
44%
59%
In-state
92%
68%
1st generation
38%
35%
White
64%
52%
Black
15%
14%
Hispanic
8%
15%
Asian
3%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
9%
12%