Cleveland State University Acceptance Rate
Cleveland, Ohio · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 10,274
- Admitted
- 9,810
- Yield
- 16.2%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Cleveland State University's acceptance rate has risen from 84.2% in 2014–15 to 95.5% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 5,002 to 10,274 (+105%) over that period.
Its 95.5% rate makes Cleveland State University more selective than about 9% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 54 tracked Ohio schools, it is more selective than about 2%.
Cleveland State University has been test-optional since 2022–23. Of admitted students, 16.2% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 5,002 | 4,212 | 84.2% | 1,590 |
| 2015–16 | 10,510 | 6,735 | 64.1% | 1,847 |
| 2016–17 | 8,528 | 7,458 | 87.5% | 1,890 |
| 2017–18 | 7,537 | 6,788 | 90.1% | 1,960 |
| 2018–19 | 9,918 | 8,762 | 88.3% | 1,960 |
| 2019–20 | 10,646 | 10,008 | 94% | 1,968 |
| 2020–21 | 7,815 | 7,315 | 93.6% | 1,799 |
| 2021–22 | 11,506 | 10,504 | 91.3% | 1,869 |
| 2022–23 | 11,570 | 9,872 | 85.3% | 1,654 |
| 2023–24 | 10,274 | 9,810 | 95.5% | 1,593 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 6,420 | 6,150 | 95.8% |
| Men | 3,854 | 3,660 | 95% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| ACT Composite | 17–25 | 33% |
How Cleveland State University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Cleveland State University's acceptance rate?
Cleveland State University's acceptance rate is 95.5% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (9,810 admitted of 10,274 applicants).
Is Cleveland State University test optional?
Cleveland State University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Cleveland State University?
Cleveland State University received 10,274 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 9,810.
Is Cleveland State University getting harder to get into?
Cleveland State University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 84.2% in 2014–15 to 95.5% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.csuohio.edu/.