Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Cleveland State University at a Glance
Cleveland State University (CSU) is a public research university in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It was established in 1964 and opened for classes in 1965 after acquiring the entirety of Fenn College, a private school that had been in operation since 1923. CSU absorbed the Cleveland-Marshall School of Law in 1969. Today it is part of the University System of Ohio, has more than 120,000 alumni, and offers over 200 academic programs amongst eight colleges. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral U…
1964
62 years old
$144M
$143.7 million (2026)
13,068
8,761 undergrad · 4,307 grad
1,235
85 acres
Identity
Is Cleveland State University Worth It?
Cleveland State University offers moderate value at $14,764/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $52,131, which is 3% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 50% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With a 91% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
How Cleveland State University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in OH
Ranked #101 of 199 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Bakersfield | 100 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| #2 | California State University-Stanislaus | 100 | $6,067 | $63,188 |
| #3 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #4 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #5 | University of California-Merced | 93 | $11,983 | $64,368 |
| #6 | Oakland University | 92 | $9,120 | $58,612 |
| #101 | Cleveland State University | 44 | $14,764 | $52,131 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Cleveland State University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 5 in OH.
Best Programs at Cleveland State University
The highest-earning program at Cleveland State University is Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at $64,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Film/Video and Photographic Arts at $21,900/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduate from Cleveland State University earns $64,100, while a Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduate earns $21,900. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates carry $25,990 in median debt vs. $27,000 for Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $14,764/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $64,100 | $64,100 | $25,990 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $58,300 | $58,300 | $25,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $55,700 | $55,700 | $23,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $54,400 | $54,400 | $25,000 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $52,700 | $52,700 | $27,275 |
| Chemical Engineering | $52,000 | $52,000 | $26,500 |
| Civil Engineering | $52,000 | $52,000 | $26,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $44,200 | $44,200 | $23,125 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $40,900 | $40,900 | $22,250 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $38,100 | $38,100 | $22,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $35,000 | $35,000 | $31,000 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | $34,900 | $34,900 | $26,500 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $34,200 | $34,200 | $25,500 |
| Marketing | $32,700 | $32,700 | $20,750 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $32,300 | $32,300 | $25,000 |
| Criminology | $31,700 | $31,700 | $26,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $30,600 | $30,600 | $21,500 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | $30,300 | $30,300 | $22,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $30,200 | $30,200 | $26,169 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $29,300 | $29,300 | $23,375 |
| Sociology | $29,200 | $29,200 | $23,751 |
| Social Work | $28,800 | $28,800 | $25,291 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $27,700 | $27,700 | $19,000 |
| Psychology, General | $26,700 | $26,700 | $20,500 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $25,500 | $25,500 | $23,812 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $24,100 | $24,100 | $21,627 |
| Biology, General | $23,900 | $23,900 | $23,150 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $21,900 | $21,900 | $27,000 |
Similar Colleges in OH
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Cleveland, OH
- Student Body
- 8,969 students
- Admission Rate
- 91%
- Graduation Rate
- 50%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $14,764
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $52,131
- Median Student Debt
- $21,797