Cleveland State: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Cleveland State University · Cleveland, Ohio · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2024-2025
- Test-optional
- 10,274
- Applicants
- 9,810
- Admitted95%
- 1,593
- Enrolled
- 16%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access95% admittedRanked #342 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #192 (tie), Business Programs #230 (tie), Computer Science #257 (tie), Nursing #457 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by Cleveland State University, read on 2026-01-11.
Is Cleveland State a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Cleveland State against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Cleveland State is a public university in Cleveland, Ohio that admits about 95% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $14,764 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Psychology, General, Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing and Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 8.0 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Cleveland State is a public institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. For the most recent reporting cycle, Cleveland State admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 95%. Admitted students typically post an ACT composite around 23. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $14,764 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Cleveland State?
Cleveland State has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
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SAT and ACT scores Cleveland State typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
| 25th percentile | 17 |
| 50th percentile | 23 |
| 75th percentile | 25 |
| % submitting ACT | 33% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional for admission; scores encouraged for scholarships.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Cleveland State's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Cleveland State actually cost?
Published tuition is $12,988 for in-state students and $18,510 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $15,104 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $14,764 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 41% of students receive Pell Grants.
| Average net price (after aid) | $14,764 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
Most popular majors at Cleveland State
The most popular undergraduate programs at Cleveland State, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing and Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. Across all programs, Cleveland State confers roughly 1,110 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $41,670 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 235 | $41,670 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 231 | $67,850 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 153 | n/a |
| Biology, General | 109 | $49,572 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 102 | $52,698 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 99 | $75,073 |
| Marketing | 95 | $56,886 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 86 | $83,818 |
Is Cleveland State safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Cleveland State disclosed 72 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 8.0 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 14 violent offenses and 10 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
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Common questions parents ask about Cleveland State
What GPA do I need for Cleveland State?
Cleveland State has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does Cleveland State typically admit?
Cleveland State does not publish standardized test ranges in the most recent reporting cycle. Scores are optional here, and a strong one can still help when the rest of the application is borderline.
How much does Cleveland State actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Cleveland State after grants and scholarships is $14,764 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $12,988 and $18,510 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Cleveland State realistic for my child?
Cleveland State admits 95% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $14,764 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Cleveland State?
Cleveland State accepts about 95% of applicants out of roughly 10,274 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Cleveland State test-optional?
Yes. Cleveland State is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered. Test-optional for admission; scores encouraged for scholarships.
Is Cleveland State a public or private school, and where is it located?
Cleveland State is a public institution located in Cleveland, Ohio.
What are the most popular majors at Cleveland State?
The largest undergraduate majors at Cleveland State by annual graduates are Psychology, General, Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing and Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. The school awards about 1,110 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Cleveland State safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Cleveland State reported 72 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 8.0 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Cleveland State University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers