Case Western Reserve University
A good fit for students focused on high earning potential. no major red flags in the data. graduates earn a median of $89,300 within 10 years; strong 87% graduation rate.
About This School
Case Western Reserve University is a private nonprofit institution located in Cleveland, Ohio with approximately 6,437 undergraduate students enrolled. The school is moderately selective, accepting approximately 37% of applicants. The average net price after financial aid is $41,190 per year. The graduation rate is 87%, and the typical graduate earns $89,300 within 10 years of enrollment.
Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) is a private research university in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It was federated in 1967 by a merger between Western Reserve University, founded in 1826 by the Presbyterian Church, and the Case Institute of Technology, founded in 1880. Case Western Reserve University comprises eight schools that offer more than 100 undergraduate programs and about 160 graduate and professional options across fields in STEM, medicine, arts, and the humanities. In 2024, the university enrolled 12,475 students from all 50 states and 106 countries and employed more than 1,182 full-time faculty members. The university's athletic teams, Case Western Reserve Spartans, play in NCAA Division III as a founding member of the University Athletic Association.
This is a strong option for students serious about STEM, medicine, or research, with a 92% freshman retention rate and median earnings of $89,300 a decade out — signs that students who enroll tend to stick with it and land well. At $38,909/year after aid, it's not cheap, but the relatively modest median debt of $21,488 at graduation suggests many students avoid getting buried financially. Worth considering if you're drawn to a research-intensive environment in a mid-sized urban setting, though Cleveland's appeal (or lack of it) is a real lifestyle factor to weigh honestly.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 17% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Case Western Reserve University graduates earn most above the national rate in Computer Science ($143,580 vs $107,009 nationally), and most below it in Biology, General ($53,604 vs $57,214).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 149 | $143,580 | $107,009 | +$36,571 |
| Biology, General | 114 | $53,604 | $57,214 | −$3,610 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 106 | $94,197 | $92,135 | +$2,062 |
| Psychology, General | 105 | $55,540 | $50,706 | +$4,834 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 102 | $87,582 | $88,910 | −$1,328 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 95 | $94,168 | $93,451 | +$717 |
| Economics | 85 | $114,601 | $82,686 | +$31,915 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 57 | $85,493 | $83,343 | +$2,150 |
| Chemical Engineering | 50 | $96,533 | $98,158 | −$1,625 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 45 | $106,134 | $98,207 | +$7,927 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 41 | $99,557 | $100,647 | −$1,090 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 39 | $89,760 | $76,194 | +$13,566 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (6,437 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Case Western Reserve University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Case Western Reserve University?
Case Western Reserve University has an acceptance rate of 37%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Case Western Reserve University hard to get into?
Case Western Reserve University is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 37%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does Case Western Reserve University cost?
The average net price at Case Western Reserve University is about $41,190 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Case Western Reserve University?
Case Western Reserve University has a graduation rate of 87%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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