Applicants, Acceptance Rate, Yield Trends at Cleveland State

44.44%

Applicants - since 2015

3.26%

Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate at Cleveland State over the past 10 years is 90.46%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 91.30%. Compared to the previous year, it became slightly more competitive to gain admission to Cleveland State in 2025. The acceptance rate at Cleveland State is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.

The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 21.49%, and the 2025 yield is 15.66%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 42.89% from 2015 to 2025.

The number of Cleveland State applicants increased by 7.55% (776 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 44.44% overall.

Key Takeaways: Cleveland State Admission Metrics

Acceptance Rate Overview

The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 91.30%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that Cleveland State is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.

Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns

The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 15.66%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at Cleveland State. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.

Application Volume & Admission Trends

For the 2025 admission cycle, Cleveland State received approximately 11,050 applications, admitted 10,089 students, and enrolled 1,580 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that Cleveland State is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.

Acceptance Rate Changes

Cleveland State 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Cleveland State over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 90.46%, while the most recent rate stands at 91.30%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.

For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 91.30%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 90.81% and for women is 91.96%.

The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Cleveland State have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 88.04% 86.66% 89.03%
2016-17 87.45%
-0.59%
86.51%
-0.15%
88.09%
-0.94%
2017-18 90.06%
2.61%
88.83%
2.32%
90.92%
2.83%
2018-19 88.34%
-1.72%
86.36%
-2.47%
89.65%
-1.27%
2019-20 94.01%
5.66%
92.99%
6.63%
94.62%
4.98%
2020-21 93.60%
-0.41%
98.70%
5.71%
91.80%
-2.82%
2021-22 91.00%
-2.61%
91.01%
-7.69%
92.00%
0.20%
2022-23 85.32%
-5.67%
90.97%
-0.04%
96.25%
4.25%
2023-24 95.48%
10.16%
94.97%
3.99%
95.79%
-0.45%
2024-25 91.30%
-4.18%
91.09%
-3.88%
91.43%
-4.36%
Average 90.46% 90.81% 91.96%
Cleveland State University Acceptance Rate Trends Over Time - Historical Admission Rate Data Visualization Chart

Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes

Cleveland State has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 27.42% in 2015 to 15.66% in 2025, representing a 42.89% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 21.49%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Cleveland State from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 42.89% over this period.

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 27.42% 31.12% 24.85%
2016-17 25.34%
-2.08%
29.16%
-1.96%
22.83%
-2.02%
2017-18 28.87%
3.53%
31.90%
2.74%
26.82%
4.00%
2018-19 22.37%
-6.51%
26.58%
-5.32%
19.71%
-7.11%
2019-20 19.66%
-2.71%
22.65%
-3.93%
17.90%
-1.81%
2020-21 24.59%
4.93%
27.36%
4.72%
22.78%
4.89%
2021-22 18.00%
-6.59%
20.99%
-6.37%
16.00%
-6.79%
2022-23 16.75%
-1.25%
18.80%
-2.19%
15.74%
-0.26%
2023-24 16.24%
-0.52%
20.33%
1.53%
13.80%
-1.94%
2024-25 15.66%
-0.58%
18.54%
-1.79%
13.92%
0.11%
Average 21.49% 24.74% 19.44%
Cleveland State University enrollment rate trends chart showing historical yield changes from 2015 to 2025

Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes

Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 9,649, the average number of admitted is 8,731, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 1,814.

The number of Cleveland State applicants increased by 7.55% (776 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 44.44% overall.

The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Cleveland State University from 2015 to 2025.

YearApplicantsAdmittedEnrolled
2015-16 7,650 6,735 1,847
2016-17 8,528
11.48%
7,458
10.73%
1,890
2.33%
2017-18 7,537
-11.62%
6,788
-8.98%
1,960
3.70%
2018-19 9,918
31.59%
8,762
29.08%
1,960
2019-20 10,646
7.34%
10,008
14.22%
1,968
0.41%
2020-21 7,815
-26.59%
7,315
-26.91%
1,799
-8.59%
2021-22 11,506
47.23%
10,470
43.13%
1,885
4.78%
2022-23 11,570
0.56%
9,872
-5.71%
1,654
-12.25%
2023-24 10,274
-11.20%
9,810
-0.63%
1,593
-3.69%
2024-25 11,050
7.55%
10,089
2.84%
1,580
-0.82%
Average 9,649 8,731 1,814
Cleveland State University - 10 Year Applicants, Admissions, and Enrollment Trends Chart

Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges

The following table compares Cleveland State University' acceptance rate to similar schools.

20242025Change %
Cleveland State University95.48%91.30%-4.38%
Youngstown State University84.45%80.32%5.14%
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee90.68%88.44%2.53%
Oakland University87.84%70.24%25.06%
Northern Kentucky University67.65%96.03%-29.55%
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay88.59%87.84%0.85%

Ratings & Review

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