- Acceptance rate: 91% for fall 2024
- Average net price: $16,307 a year (2022–23)
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Cleveland State University reported an acceptance rate of 91% for fall 2024.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Cleveland State University reviews each application.
Cleveland State University GPA requirements
Cleveland State University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Cleveland State University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Cleveland State University acceptance rate
Cleveland State University admitted 10,089 of 11,050 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 91%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Cleveland State University is a public 4-year university in Cleveland, Ohio, with 9,482 undergraduates.
Admission requirements
What Cleveland State University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Considered if submitted |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
Cleveland State University didn't report SAT or ACT scores for its fall 2024 first-year students.
AP credit
Cleveland State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $16,307 a year at Cleveland State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to get into Cleveland State University?
Not very selective: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Cleveland State University admitted 91% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What GPA does Cleveland State University look for?
Cleveland State University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Is Cleveland State University test optional?
No, it's test blind: Cleveland State University doesn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you send them, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What percent of applicants does Cleveland State University accept?
Cleveland State University's acceptance rate was 91% for fall 2024: it admitted 10,089 of 11,050 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.
How much does GPA matter at Cleveland State University?
A lot: Cleveland State University requires high school GPA, high school record and college preparatory program. It considers essay or personal statement and legacy status if you send them. It doesn't consider high school class rank, recommendations, test scores, other tests, demonstration of competencies and work experience. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Is a 3.0 GPA good enough for Cleveland State University?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Cleveland State University admitted 91% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
Does it matter at Cleveland State University if a parent went there?
Yes. Cleveland State University considers whether a parent or other relative attended, though it isn't required, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Do you need to write an essay to apply to Cleveland State University?
No, but it considers one. Cleveland State University doesn't require a personal statement or essay but considers one if you send it, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What do students pay at Cleveland State University after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $16,307 a year at Cleveland State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Cleveland State University give credit for AP exams?
Yes. Cleveland State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Before you apply, check Cleveland State University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Cleveland State UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
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