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Is Cleveland State University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Cleveland State, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Cleveland State sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $52,131 helps, but median debt of $21,797 plus yearly net price of $14,764 creates a tighter path. For context, Cleveland State's net price runs about 24% above the typical 4-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$16,307
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $3,153 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $13,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$14,764
Median earnings 10 years out
$52,131
Median debt at graduation
$21,797
Graduation rate
50%
At Cleveland State, a typical graduate carries about $21,797 in student debt and earns roughly $52,131 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $248 per month, or 6% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Cleveland State is a public four year school in Cleveland, OH. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
Shawnee State
Portsmouth, OH
Worth-It Score: 52/100
Median net price: $14,381
Public 4-year
Wright State University-
Dayton, OH
Worth-It Score: 57/100
Median net price: $15,415
Public 4-year
University of Akron
Akron, OH
Worth-It Score: 61/100
Median net price: $13,946
Public 4-year
Central State
Wilberforce, OH
Worth-It Score: 42/100
Median net price: $13,096
Public 4-year
University of Toledo
Toledo, OH
Worth-It Score: 61/100
Median net price: $17,249
Common questions about Cleveland State
The median net price at Cleveland State is $14,764 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in Ohio? See the most affordable public universities in Ohio →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →