Cleveland State vs Case Western Reserve University (CWRU)
Cleveland State University and Case Western Reserve University, two prominent institutions in Ohio, offer distinct educational experiences. Cleveland State, an urban public research university, boasts an acceptance rate of 88%, making it more accessible to a wider range of students. Case Western, a private research university, has a more selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 30%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at Cleveland State including Business, Health Professions, and Engineering, while Case Western is known for its strengths in Engineering, Biological Sciences, and Social Sciences. Cleveland State's student body is predominantly composed of Ohio residents, while Case Western attracts a more international student population. In terms of graduation rates, Cleveland State's four-year graduation rate stands at 18%, while Case Western's is significantly higher at 86%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and goals
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![]() Case Western Reserve University |
![]() Cleveland State University |
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Overview |
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Location | Cleveland, Ohio | Cleveland, Ohio |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 94.0% | 70.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 30.2% | 91.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$50
|
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$40
|
SAT range | 1410 - 1530 | 900 - 1170 |
ACT range | 32 - 35 | 18 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 39.0% | 23.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 31.0% | 50.0% |
Total number of applicants | 33,232 | 11,506 |
Total number of admissions given out | 10,049 | 10,504 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,606 | 1,869 |
Yield rate | 16.0% | 17.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $74,114 |
In state:
$28,630
Out of state:
$33,593
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Average net price | $38,166 | $15,517 |
Tuition | $54,020 |
In state:
$11,610
Out of state:
$16,573
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,584
Meal plan:
$6,898
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Room/dormitory:
$8,825
Meal plan:
$5,394
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
81.0%
Average amount $33,761 |
92.0%
Average amount $8,779 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
61.0%
Average amount $5,091 |
48.0%
Average amount $5,037 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $11,016 |
4.0%
Average amount $11,833 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
5,792
Men 52.5% Women 47.5% |
10,481
Men 44.5% Women 55.5% |
Graduate students |
6,350
Men 45.1% Women 54.9% |
4,827
Men 46.2% Women 53.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 79.8% | N/A |
International students | 19.2% | 13.0% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 4,494 | 1,011 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Ohio New York Illinois Pennsylvania California | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 16:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 84.4% | 50.8% |
Dropout rate | 15.1% | 8.7% |
Transferred out | N/A | 33.8% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Doctoral Degrees)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
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Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
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