Cleveland State University

cleveland state university accreditation

Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees Offered at Cleveland State University

Cleveland State University appears in our ranking of the 50 Most Affordable Colleges in America with Confucius Institutes (Centers of Chinese Language and Culture).

Cleveland State University offers majors and minors in more than 60 fields. Whether you want to study Biomedical Engineering, Sustainable Urban Development, Native American Studies or Dance, you can do so at Cleveland State. Students who are unsure what field of study they would like to pursue can take the university’s online quiz to help guide them in the right direction.

The university offers bachelors, graduate and doctorate degrees in the traditional in-class setting. All undergraduate students must complete the school’s general education requirements. Students take two courses each in Arts and Humanities, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences. Cleveland State University stands out because it requires all undergraduates to complete courses in social diversity and the African-American experience. They must also take a course that focuses on either Latin America, Asia, Africa or the Middle East.

Students who wish to pursue online matriculation can do so through the school’s online campus. Undergraduate classes offered online include Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership. Undergraduate students can also receive a Bioethics certification or can prepare to test as a Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant.

Cleveland State University students can choose from eight graduate programs. These include MBA and Master of Science in Nursing or Health Sciences. Those pursuing a Master of Education can choose from Adult Learning and Development, Community Health Promotion, Educational Technology, Gifted Education or Educational Research and Assessment.

About Cleveland State University

Cleveland State University was established in 1964 as a research university. The school is part of the University System of Ohio. It has an enrollment that exceeds 17,000 undergraduate and nearly 5,000 post-graduate students each year. Cleveland State University includes the Cleveland-Marshall School of Law, the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs and the Monte Ahuja College of Business. Among the school’s research collaborations are Case Western, NASA Glenn Research Center, International Space University, Ohio Department of Education and the Museum of Natural History.

U.S. News and World Report ranks Cleveland State University at 230-301 on in a variety of areas. The school’s highest ranking is in its engineering program, which ranks at 161 in the country.

Notable alums from Cleveland State University include former Cleveland mayor Carl B. Stokes, Tim Russert from NBC’s Meet the Press, inventor of the artificial kidney Shuvo Roy and Grammy-award winner Angelin Chang.

Cleveland State University Accreditation Details

Cleveland State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Each of its various schools and programs holds accreditation from different governing boards. Among these are the American Bar Association, which accredits the school’s law degree; the American Chemical Society, which accredits the undergraduate chemistry degree and the Council of Social Work Education, which accredits the social work program.

Cleveland State University Application Requirements

Traditional and online students can apply to Cleveland State University online or they can complete a physical application that is then mailed to the admissions office. Incoming freshmen must have completed a minimum of four years of English, three years of math, three years of natural sciences and three years of social sciences. Students must have a minimum score of 18 on the ACT or a combined score of 880 in the SAT. Students must have all official high school transcript sent directly to the university to be considered for admission. Students should also provide transcripts for any university-level courses that were completed prior to high school graduation.

Graduate students must request that official transcripts be sent directly to the university. This is waived if the graduate student completed an undergraduate degree at Cleveland State. Some students also need to submit scores from entrance exams such as the MAT, GMAT or GRE. These students must also supply letters of recommendation.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition amounts are based upon the number of hours a student is enrolled at Cleveland State University. The fee is roughly $400 per credit hour for residents of Ohio, $570 for non-Ohio residents and about $600 per credit hour for international students. Students are charged this tuition rate per hour through 12 hours per semester. Any student taking between 12 and 18 hours is charged the same rate. Any student who wishes to take 19 credit hours is charged an additional credit hour fee.

Graduate students are charged tuition in the same manner. Most students are charged a fee between $500 and $600 per credit hour up to 13 hours. Any student taking more than 13 hours in a semester is not charged any additional fees for tuition.

Students may be charged additional fees for athletics, billing services, career services, e-learning, and engineering. None of these charges include housing or meal plans.

Online students are charged depending on the program. The online MBA has a fee of approximately $36,000 for the completed program. This fee includes all books and course materials.

Students who wish to seek help with paying for tuition have a variety of options. All students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. This form is used by the federal government, the school and many private providers to determine need when awarding scholarships and grants. The FAFSA may also be used to process some loans.

Each college within the university offers specific scholarships that are both need and merit based. Likewise, incoming freshmen can receive scholarships of up to $24,000 that pay out over the course of four years if they have a minimum ACT score of 28 or a combined SAT score of 1300 as well as a minimum 3.7 GPA.

Online students are eligible for financial aid as well. They must also complete the FAFSA to be considered for need-based aid. Any online student with questions about financial aid should contact the online learning office or the Cleveland State University admissions office.

To learn more about Cleveland State University and all of the many degrees available, students should visit the university’s website.