Cleveland State vs. Centra College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cleveland State University in Cleveland, OH with Centra College in Lynchburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cleveland State University is larger than Centra College based on total student enrollment (14,074 students vs. 219 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting); Centra College is in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting).
• Cleveland State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Centra College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cleveland State University 16:1; Centra College 3:1.

Cleveland State vs. Centra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland State or Centra College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centra College are 17.7% lower than at Cleveland State University ($12,424 vs. $15,104).
• Cleveland State University is 0% more expensive for in-state tuition than Centra College (about $5 more per year; $12,988.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42.6% higher at Cleveland State than at Centra College (about $5,527 more per year; $18,510.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cleveland State University than at Centra College (90% vs. 0%).

Cleveland State vs. Centra College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cleveland State or Centra College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Centra College and Cleveland State.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cleveland State University 880/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cleveland State University 18/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cleveland State - Test-free; Centra College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027.
• Centra College has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Cleveland State (91.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at Cleveland State vs. 0% at Centra College.

Cleveland State vs. Centra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cleveland State and Centra College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Centra College earn a median of about $600 more per year than Cleveland State graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $44,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Centra College graduates have a $9,458 lower median loan debt than Cleveland State graduates ($12,042 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, Centra College graduates have an estimated $98 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cleveland State graduates ($124 vs. $222).
• More Centra College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.