Central State University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and families looking for lower cost. graduation rate is below 25% — most students don't finish here; median debt is moderately high. 53% of students receive Pell Grants — strong access mission.
About This School
Central State University is a public institution located in Wilberforce, Ohio with approximately 2,620 undergraduate students enrolled. Central State University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 99%. The average net price after financial aid is $13,096 per year. The graduation rate is 23%, and the typical graduate earns $28,600 within 10 years of enrollment.
Central State University (CSU) is a public, historically black land-grant university in Wilberforce, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1887, it enrolls approximately 2,700 students across its five constituent colleges. It is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the University System of Ohio, and the Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE).
The numbers here tell a concerning story: only 26% of students graduate, and just half of freshmen return for sophomore year, suggesting many students struggle to finish what they start. On the positive side, the average net price of $16,544/year is genuinely affordable, and median debt at graduation is a relatively modest $13,740. Worth considering only if you have a clear plan to stay on track, strong family support, and a realistic picture of the $28,600 median earnings most graduates are seeing a decade out.
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: 5% 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.
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, General | 358 | $44,662 | $68,407 | −$23,745 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 288 | $46,914 | $55,378 | −$8,464 |
| Social Work | 27 | $47,853 | $51,790 | −$3,937 |
| Psychology, General | 18 | $39,628 | $50,706 | −$11,078 |
| Journalism | 12 | $36,311 | $56,278 | −$19,967 |
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?
Worth scrutinizing. Median earnings relative to debt are tight.
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 (2,620 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Central State 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 Central State University?
Central State University has an acceptance rate of 99%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Central State University hard to get into?
Not especially. Central State University has an acceptance rate of 99%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Central State University cost?
The average net price at Central State University is about $13,096 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 Central State University?
Central State University has a graduation rate of 23%, 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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